M6:3663 — لیک استثنا و تسبیح خدا / ز اعتماد خود بد از ایشان جدا

Translation: But the utterance of "God willing" and the praise of God / Were distinct from their (the physicians') self-reliance. Meaning: This verse suggests that the physicians (in the preceding narrative) should have relied on divine will and praise, rather than their own self-assurance, thereby freeing themselves from conceit and false confidence.

This verse, situated within the narrative of the King, the Maid, and the Physicians, reveals a profound point about Rumi's worldview and humanity's relationship with divine providence. He states: "But the utterance of 'God willing' and the praise of God / Were distinct from their (the physicians') self-reliance." This 'exception' (istithnā) is none other than the saying of 'Insha'Allah' (God willing), which Rumi further clarifies elsewhere in this very story: "My aim in 'forsaking exception' is hard-heartedness / Not merely saying it, for it is a state of being." The intention is not merely uttering a word, but rather cultivating a state of submission and humility in the heart. Istithnā means acknowledging that our will does not encompass all causes and effects in the world, and that the outcome of our endeavors may not necessarily align with our desires.

This perspective teaches us a sublime worldview. Firstly, that there is an overseer of the entire cosmos, and secondly, that we do not have complete mastery over all causes and effects; nor should we assume that simply arranging the preliminaries of a task guarantees the desired outcome. The story, however, goes beyond this: all these causes and effects revolve, move, and yield results by the command of another. The reins of affairs are in His hands: "In this curtain, not a single thread is idle / But the main thread is not visible to anyone." This is precisely the point to which Imam Ali (AS) consciously alludes in Nahj al-Balagha, in a letter to Uthman ibn Hunayf: "I swear an oath, making an exception therein by the will of God, that I will surely discipline my soul." That is, I swear, but in this oath, I remember that 'Insha'Allah' and divine will are at play. This confession to the presence of unseen providence would have separated the arrogant physicians from their false self-reliance.

This verse also contains a rare methodological note from Rumi: "The mention of 'exception' and intricate prudence / Was stated at the beginning of the Masnavi." Rumi generally does not look back, but rather, like a flood, always moves forward. This is characteristic of his impromptu poetry, wherein he composed thoughts in the moment and did not subject them to later refinement or editing. This 'flood-like' creation, in contrast to the polishing artistry of Hafez, indicates that Rumi was not in the business of 'selling old wares,' but rather 'selling new ones.' Therefore, his reference here to the beginning of the Masnavi is highly unusual.

But why does Rumi reiterate this point? Because this is his entire message. He declares: "If there are a hundred books, there is but one chapter / If there are a hundred directions, the intention is but one Mihrab." In the Masnavi, he sells only one commodity: "Our Masnavi is a shop of unity / Whatever you see other than unity is an idol." If an understanding of the Masnavi does not lead to unity, that understanding is idolatry. This multiplicity of verses and stories is an outer form that contains a single inner reality. This unity is nothing but love: "Blessings upon Love, the Master of all / It gave unity to a hundred thousand particles." Love gathers the scattered mind of humanity and grants it unity. Even if there is an iron ruler in a cloth merchant's shop for measuring fabric, that ruler is not part of the goods for sale, but rather a tool to serve the main commodity. Similarly, 'exception' and 'praise of God' and humility before the divine will are paths to attaining that ultimate 'unity' which is Rumi's main purpose throughout the entire Masnavi.

Key takeaways

• "Exception" (saying 'Insha'Allah') is not merely a word, but a state of heartfelt submission and humility.
• The world has a supreme Overseer; we are not in control of all its causes and must trust in unseen providence.
• False self-reliance stems from heedlessness of a higher will and the hidden reins of affairs.
• Rumi's rare self-reference to the "beginning of the Masnavi" underscores the fundamental importance of this worldview throughout his entire work.
• The Masnavi is a "shop of unity," and all its stories and verses, including this counsel of 'exception and praise,' serve the singular goal of love's divine unifying power.