M6:3698 — بر درخت گندم منهی زدند / از طویلهٔ مخلصان بیرون شدند

Translation: They struck the forbidden wheat-tree / And from the dwelling of the purified they were cast out. Meaning:* This couplet speaks of those who, by committing a forbidden act akin to tasting the forbidden fruit, were expelled from the community of the pure and protected.

Mowlana, in this profound couplet, speaks directly to the fate of those who stray from the path of purity and divine protection. The verse states: "Bar derakht-e gandom manhī zadand / Az ṭavīleh-ye mokhlesān bīrūn shodand." (They struck the forbidden wheat-tree / And from the dwelling of the purified they were cast out).

Firstly, we must clarify the term "ṭavīleh." Here, it does not carry its modern connotation of a stable or barn for animals. Rather, it signifies a tribe, a dwelling, a secure abode, or the sacred precinct of the pure and protected ones. Mowlana is describing an expulsion from this secure and special community of the elect.

A more crucial point lies in the distinction between "mokhlesān" (those who strive for purity) and "mokhlasān" (those who have been made pure by divine grace). While the published text uses "mokhlesān," it is beyond doubt, given Mowlana's deep Quranic insights, that "mokhlasān" is the intended meaning. A "mokhles" is one who, through personal effort and striving, pursues sincerity and endeavors to cleanse their soul from impurities. However, a "mokhlas" is one whom God Himself has purified and placed under His special care and protection from the outset. As the Quran attests, Satan confesses his inability to tempt God's "mokhlasīn" servants ("Illā ‘ibādaka minhumu’l-mokhlasīn"). These are individuals who have been sieved and cleansed from all imperfections by a hidden, divine hand.

Therefore, this couplet refers to those who were expelled from the assembly of these divinely purified and chosen ones. Why? Because "bar derakht-e gandom manhī zadand" (they struck the forbidden wheat-tree). The phrase "wheat-tree" is an allusion to the forbidden tree from which Adam and Eve ate, leading to their expulsion from Paradise. This "manhī," or forbidden act, symbolizes the transgression of divine boundaries and the breaking of the Creator's command. Mowlana, through this Quranic allegory, illustrates how violating a divine prohibition leads to expulsion from the community of the pure and a loss of spiritual standing.

This expulsion is not an arbitrary banishment, but rather the natural consequence of the individual's own choice. These individuals, of their own volition, stepped outside the bounds of divine command and tasted the forbidden fruit. As a result, they were deprived of the secure abode of the "mokhlasān." This event is not a complaint from Mowlana, but rather a profound narrative about the consequences of transgressing the divine will, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining purity and submission to the Lord's command.

Key takeaways

• In the Masnavi, 'ṭavīleh' signifies a tribe or dwelling, not a stable.
• The crucial distinction lies between 'mokhles' (individual striving for purity) and 'mokhlas' (divinely granted purity).
• Mowlana, in this couplet, refers to the 'mokhlasān'—those divinely purified under special grace.
• 'Striking the forbidden wheat-tree' is an allegory for disobedience and transgression of divine command, akin to the story of Adam and Eve.
• Expulsion from the community of the pure is a natural consequence of one's own choices and actions.
• The verse underscores the spiritual repercussions of disobeying divine injunctions, rather than lamenting fate.