M6:1430 — دوستی جاهل شیرین‌سخن / کم شنو کان هست چون سم کهن

Translation: Give little heed to the sweet-tongued ignorant friend, for their words are like ancient poison. Meaning: Be wary of the friendship and pleasant speech of ignorant individuals, as their seemingly sweet words are in fact like old, deep-seated poison that slowly but surely inflicts harm.

Mowlana, in this couplet, unequivocally unveils one of the most profound hidden dangers in human social and spiritual life: the peril of befriending an ignorant person, especially one who is eloquent and 'sweet-tongued.' I assert that for Mowlana, the 'jāhil' (ignorant) is not merely someone lacking knowledge; rather, it is a character devoid of authenticity and stability, one who, like a 'khonthā' or 'narmāde' (hermaphrodite, used metaphorically for a bisexual or inconsistent person), is in constant flux. Such an individual may present themselves as male one moment and female the next, saying one thing today and another tomorrow. They are essentially 'bipolar' or 'two-faced,' adapting their guise to every situation, and for this reason, they are considered 'characterless' or 'nobody,' much like Sa'di aptly describes such a being: 'Wherever you see such a person, pay them no heed, for they are nobody.' This chameleon-like nature stems from ignorance and underpins their insincerity in speech and action.

The phrase 'sweet-tongued' (shīrīn-sokhan) here is a profound deception. Words emanating from ignorance, no matter how outwardly pleasing and seductive, function as 'ancient poison' (sam-e kohan). This is not a poison that kills immediately or overtly; rather, it is deeply entrenched and insidious. It slowly permeates the human soul and psyche, takes deep root, and its destructive effects gradually manifest. These detrimental impacts include the gradual decay of the spirit, deviation from truth, and the erosion of sound judgment. The danger is hidden within the outward sweetness, and it is precisely this concealment that amplifies its destructive power.

I view this phenomenon as akin to the ignorant affections of a mother, to which Mowlana alludes elsewhere in the Masnavi. An unknowing mother, out of misguided compassion and false love, dissuades her child from schooling, attributing their frailty to the effort of learning. Such affection, born of ignorance, is not merely unhelpful but actively harmful. That ignorant mother fails to grasp that the hardships of study, though seemingly arduous, are essential for her child's growth. Here, the saying aptly applies: 'A father's slap is better than her sweets.' This means that sometimes a stern and bitter encounter, born of knowledge and goodwill, is far more constructive and beneficial than the hollow and damaging sweetness of ignorance. Thus, the directive 'listen little' is not just a mere recommendation; it is a wise command to preserve the soul's health from the poison of sweet-tongued ignoramuses.

Key takeaways

• The sweet facade and pleasant words of the ignorant are a hidden deception.
• Ignorance, even with good intentions, can be like ancient poison; its effects are slow and profound.
• Friendship with insincere and two-faced individuals imperils the health of the soul.
• Mowlana teaches us to assess the depth and sincerity of intent, rather than merely pleasant appearances.
• Sometimes the bitterness of truth is far more beneficial than the deceptive sweetness stemming from ignorance.