M1:364 — کرد با وی شاه آن کاری که گفت / خلق حیران مانده زان مِکرِ نهفت

Translation: The king carried out with him the task he had commanded, / The people remained astonished by that hidden stratagem. Meaning: The king executed the cunning minister's plan, publicly exiling him to gain the Christians' trust, leaving the populace bewildered by the hidden deception.

This verse marks the climax of a complex and deceptive scheme. The king executes precisely the 'stratagem' (makr) that his cunning minister had proposed. Ostensibly, this act is the expulsion and banishment of the minister, but in reality, it is an elaborate performance designed to win the trust of the Christians and ultimately lead them astray. 'Makr-i Nihuft' signifies a hidden ruse, and its concealment is vital for the plan's success. The verse not only proclaims the successful execution of this stratagem but also emphasizes that the deception was so masterful that 'the populace remained astonished,' meaning the general public (in this case, the Christians) were bewildered and utterly failed to grasp its true nature.

It is imperative to note that in mystical and even Quranic literature, the term 'makr' does not invariably carry a negative connotation. 'Makr', at its core, denotes the employment of intricate tools and methods to achieve a goal; its moral valence is entirely contingent upon the ultimate objective. In this narrative, the minister's aim was not merely to deceive but to misguide people from their faith, thus rendering his 'makr' ugly and reprehensible. However, when we speak of 'Makr Allah' (God's stratagem), we refer to divine wisdom and providence that responds to the machinations of evildoers. Here, the minister's 'makr' is a tool for achieving false and destructive ends, a tool intricately woven with outward piety and feigned devotion.

Mawlana employs this tale not merely as a historical anecdote (the veracity of which is uncertain) but to articulate a deeper truth: the traps and deceptions of the world and the commanding ego (nafs-i ammāra). He asserts, 'O God, there are hundreds of thousands of traps and baits,' and humanity is perpetually exposed to these deceptions. The astonishment of the people at the 'hidden stratagem' symbolizes our heedlessness towards the snares that the ego and the world set for us. Just as the Prophet's companions sought his guidance on how to discern the 'makr of the ghoul-like ego' — they yearned to recognize the traps, not merely the rewards — this story serves as a profound warning for vigilance against deceptive appearances, both in society and within the depths of our own souls.

Key takeaways

• Makr (stratagem) is morally neutral; its ethical value depends entirely on its intent and goal.
• Hidden deception (makr-i nihuft) is one of the most perilous traps, as it disarms discernment.
• The people's astonishment at the hidden ruse symbolizes humanity's unawareness of the ego's and world's snares.
• This narrative serves as a warning for vigilance against deceptive appearances and manipulative infiltration of beliefs.
• Mawlana uses this story to illustrate universal existential traps and the cunning of the commanding ego.