M6:3631 — هر کجاتان دل کشد عازم شوید / فی امان الله دست افشان روید

Translation: Wherever your heart pulls you, set out; / Under God's protection, go forth dancing. Meaning: This verse, delivered with joy and encouragement, urges the king's sons to embark on a free journey within their father's dominion, emphasizing divine safety and protection along their way.

Mowlana, in this verse from Book Six of the Masnavi, reveals the quintessential spirit of spiritual journeying through the voice of a king addressing his sons. The king instructs them: "Wherever your heart pulls you, set out," granting them full liberty to explore and follow their inner calling. This call to inner guidance is rooted in Mowlana's wisdom, which prioritizes self-knowledge and an intuitive heart. He explicitly urges them to "go forth dancing" (دست افشان روید), meaning to proceed with joy, lightness, and even celebration, rather than with sorrow or lament. This is precisely the spirit of sabuk-ruh (light-souledness) that Mowlana emphasizes throughout the Masnavi; the path of truth is not suffering, but flight, brimming with delight and vivacity. The Masnavi is a book of dance, not lamentation.

Acrucially, the phrase "Fi Amān Allāh" (under God's protection) underscores that this freedom is not absolute or unrestrained; rather, it is a journey undertaken within the bounds of divine care and safeguarding. The seeker on the path of love is neither abandoned nor alone. He is not lonely, but rather under the shelter of the Beloved. This highlights the critical distinction between judā'ī (separation) and tanhā'ī (loneliness); the mystic laments judā'ī because they were once united with the Beloved and now long for reunion. However, they never complain of tanhā'ī, for they know the Beloved is ever-present and watchful, even in separation, holding them in His safety. This paternal instruction implicitly refutes existentialist notions of loneliness, which posit humanity in a meaningless, abandoned world; in Mowlana's school, existence is permeated by divine presence.

This paternal command is delivered immediately before the king warns his sons against entering the "Hush-roba castle" (a symbol of worldly deceptions). Thus, this verse portrays the ideal and desired state of spiritual journeying: a state of freedom, joy, and peace of mind, all under divine grace, before the dangers and allurements of the world lead the seeker astray. This positive and reassuring tone establishes the foundation of movement upon trust and love, rather than fear or compulsion.

Key takeaways

• Joy and inner freedom are foundational to Mowlana's spiritual path; journeying is flight, not suffering.
• Every inner journey should commence with the heart's guidance and proceed under divine protection and support.
• The phrase "Fi Amān Allāh" confirms that treading the path of love does not lead to 'loneliness' but is under the Beloved's perpetual shelter.
• Mowlana emphasizes the seeker's light-heartedness and delight, viewing the world as a dance floor, not an arena of sorrow.
• This verse depicts an initial state of grace and permission, bestowed upon the seeker before encountering the world's challenges and deceptions.