M6:290 — جانور فربه شود لیک از علف / آدمی فربه ز عز است و شرف

Translation: An animal grows corpulent from fodder, but a human grows corpulent from dignity and honor. Meaning: This verse highlights the fundamental difference between the physical growth of an animal and the spiritual flourishing of a human, asserting that human dignity is built upon non-material values.

This verse presents one of Mowlana’s clearest and most definitive explanations of the essential difference between humans and animals. An animal, undoubtedly, grows corpulent and strong from fodder and material food; this is an obvious and universal reality. But the truth of humanity, as Mowlana emphatically states, feeds on honor (ʿizzat) and dignity (sharaf). This 'corpulence' here does not refer merely to physical fatness, but unequivocally signifies spiritual flourishing, exhilaration, joy, vibrancy, and fullness of the soul.

I have repeatedly found this point in Mowlana’s works: true human life is not sustained by material food. That inner vitality and freshness, that sparkle in the eyes and smile on the lips, all originate from a kind of spiritual corpulence. In the tale where this verse appears, the master, in order to deceive his slave, promises him his daughter's hand in marriage. The astonishing point is how even a 'good thought' (fekr-i khosh) and 'beautiful imagination' (khiyāl-i jamāl)—that is, the mere idea of attaining honor and status, even a false honor—can so fill the slave with joy and life that Mowlana describes him as becoming 'stout, corpulent, red, and blooming.' This corpulence is the result of feeding the soul with values such as reputation, pride, and hope, not merely satisfying hunger.

This meaning is further emphasized in the very next verse: “A human fattens through the ear / an animal fattens through the throat and drink.” This reference to the 'ear' reveals the depth of Mowlana’s argument. The true nourishment of a human is the words, thoughts, and teachings that enter the soul through the ear and nurture it. Pleasant and wise words make a person 'corpulent' and spirited, while improper and hurtful speech can 'erode' and diminish the soul. Thus, the difference between humans and animals is not merely in body shape or intelligence; it lies in the nature of the sustenance that leads each to its perfection. The animal is bound by physical needs, its perfection in physical satiety; but the human, if faithful to their essence, seeks perfection in the corpulence of honor and dignity and the flourishing of the soul. This distinction, without exaggeration, is the essence of Mowlana’s view of the human condition.

Key takeaways

• Human growth and flourishing are fundamentally spiritual and moral, not merely physical.
• Dignity (ʿizzat) and honor (sharaf) are the vital nourishment for the human soul.
• Even the imagination and thought of attaining noble virtues can enrich and gladden the spirit.
• The quality of what enters our soul through the 'ear' determines our spiritual health and wealth.
• Mowlana explicitly distinguishes human perfection from mere animalistic survival.