M4:3398 — تو ز ضعف چشم بینی پیش پا / تو ضعیف و هم ضعیفت پیشوا

This couplet is part of a longer exchange between a mule and a camel. The mule complains to the camel about frequently stumbling and falling, while the camel rarely does. The camel's response, which begins with this beyt, attributes the mule's clumsiness to its poor vision and, by extension, its overall weak nature. The camel implies that the mule's sight is so poor that it can only perceive the ground directly in front of its hooves. This physical limitation, 'weakness of eye,' is then presented as a metaphor for a broader spiritual or intellectual 'weakness.' Because the mule can only see what is immediately before it, its 'guide' (its perception, its foresight, its ability to navigate) is inherently limited and 'weak.'

In the larger context of the Masnavi, Rumi often uses animal fables to illustrate human spiritual conditions. The mule, with its limited vision, represents those who are bound by their immediate sensory perceptions and cannot see the broader path or the ultimate destination. Their 'guide' is their own restricted understanding, which inevitably leads to stumbling and error. The camel, in contrast, will later describe its own clearer, far-reaching vision, symbolizing a more enlightened perspective that allows for a smoother, more purposeful journey.