M6:1546 — گر ز گوری خشت بر تو اوفتاد / عاقلان از گور کی خواهند داد

Translation: If a brick from a grave fell upon you, / When would the wise seek justice from a grave? Meaning: This verse poetically illustrates the futility of seeking redress or engagement from one who is spiritually dead; it is as irrational as demanding justice from a grave.

The "Judge" (Qāḍī) in this section of the Mathnawi issues a ruling whose depth of meaning transcends a simple legal judgment. In describing the ailing person brought before him, he declares: “You have often seen the dead within the grave; / See the grave within the dead, O blind one!” This striking hyperbole renders the individual “deader than dead,” a soul utterly detached from the sphere of human vitality.

Our particular verse continues this very line of thought, introducing the powerful analogy of a "brick falling from a grave." Mawlana asks: If a brick were to fall from atop a grave and cause harm, what sensible person would go to that grave and demand justice from it? This question elevates the verse's rhetoric to its peak, asserting that seeking redress from one who is, in truth, more lifeless than any corpse—even if outwardly alive—is the height of irrationality and a waste of one's vital energy.

Here, Mawlana elegantly delineates the boundaries of reason and fairness when confronting individuals spiritually barren. They are such that “graves have come into their very lineage”; meaning, life has been buried within them, leaving behind only a meaningless form. In such a state, “Do not circle around the anger and grudge of a dead person; / Beware, do not contend with a wall painting!” Rage and resentment directed at what is, in reality, no more than an image on a wall, can yield nothing but the erosion of one's own soul.

This verse not only imparts profound wisdom but also showcases Mawlana's poetic genius. I have often remarked on his multifaceted personality; at the pinnacle of profound wisdom and philosophical depth, he never neglects hyperbole, humor, and wordplay. These astonishing metaphors compel the reader both to contemplate and to admire the agility of the poet's mind.

In stark contrast to this "dead" one, from whom justice is impossible, Mawlana introduces the concept of the "living" – those alive through a divine breath of life, whose rejection is equivalent to the rejection of Truth itself. This fundamental dichotomy guides us to recognize that discerning between the "truly dead" and the "truly living" is the key to proper interaction in the world. From the former, one must withdraw; from the latter, one must seek proximity and presence.

Key takeaways

• Seeking justice or engagement from one devoid of spiritual life is futile and irrational.
• A person spiritually dead is akin to a grave or a lifeless painting; conflict with them only leads to spiritual attrition.
• Mawlana, even when delivering profound wisdom, utilizes hyperbole and wit to make his message more incisive.
• Distinguishing between the 'truly dead' and the 'truly living' (divine saints) is crucial for right conduct in the world.
• One should refrain from anger and resentment towards the 'dead-hearted' and instead seek the presence of the 'living'.