M6:4152 — هان ببین این را به چشم اعتبار / این چنین دعوی میندیش و میار

Translation: Hark, look upon this (lesson) with the eye of contemplation, Such a claim, neither conceive nor utter.

Meaning: This verse serves as a stark warning against hollow claims and assertions that lead to ruin and demands that one view the consequences of such pretensions with an eye of insight and caution.

In this verse, part of a dialogue between a prince and his brothers, we encounter a direct and decisive warning from the voice of Mowlana. The brothers show the prince, who is contemplating a dangerous claim (daʿwā), a trench filled with severed heads, telling him: “Hark, look upon this (lesson) with the eye of contemplation, / Such a claim, neither conceive nor utter.”

This beyt, above all else, underscores the profound preciousness of human life. I firmly believe that the idea of human rights, despite all its practical violations, is fundamentally sacred and worthy of utmost respect. Human life is the most noble thing in this world, and the sanctity of our bodies derives from the sacredness of our souls. The story of David in the Torah, to which Muhyiddin al-Arabi also refers, attests to this truth: God did not permit David to complete the temple he had built, because David had shed the blood of God’s servants, even if it was by divine command. God declared: “Life is precious to Me.” This life is invaluable, and we have no right to cheapen it. A curse upon those who sell human life cheaply, who senselessly spill innocent blood, and who, through contradictory actions, disregard the lives of their fellow humans.

This warning from Mowlana against thoughtless “claims” is directed at tyrannical tendencies and autocracy that, in pursuit of their own “expediency” or that of their group, shed countless lives. Rulers have always sought to justify their actions with “expediency,” but this should not diminish the reprehensibility of the most heinous act: killing human beings. The brothers tell the prince: “Behold, O one who speaks unjustly out of ignorance, / A trench full of severed heads... All pursued this claim / And gave their necks to this desire.” This trench full of severed heads is the result of such exaggeration and false pretension that leads individuals to baseless and dangerous claims. Mowlana emphasizes that we should view this scene with the “eye of contemplation” (چشم اعتبار)—that is, an eye that takes warning and learns—so that we never harbor such pretensions in our hearts nor utter them.

In this context, Mowlana breaks the silence he sometimes maintains on political or historical matters to emphasize a fundamental ethical principle: human life. He usually speaks of separation and longing, which are eternal and primordial matters, and refrains from worldly debates. But here, he addresses the ethical and human consequences of the abuse of power and baseless claims, the result of which is the ruin of human lives. This is not a complaint about the world, but a stark warning about the consequences of ignorant and arrogant human behavior.

The brothers further advise: “Go not into battle unarmed / And like the reckless, go not into peril.” This is a crucial point; this verse, in a way, echoes the Quran’s warning that one should not cast oneself into destruction. Claims without the backing of wisdom and insight are like entering the battlefield unarmed, which leads only to perdition. This perspective is entirely consistent with the spirit of Mowlana’s ethical teachings, which consider self-knowledge and insight as the foundation of every action, and strongly caution against “blindness” and “heedlessness.”

Key takeaways

• Human life is precious and sacred; no claim or expediency should lead to its devaluation.
• Exaggerated and baseless claims have horrific consequences that must be viewed with an eye of contemplation.
• Even in his usual silence on worldly affairs, Mowlana emphasizes the ethical value and sanctity of human life.
• Entering any domain, material or spiritual, without insight and preparation, leads to ruin and regret.
• Ethics and religious teachings remain essential for curbing selfishness and preserving human dignity.