M1:374 — دل بدو دادند ترسایان تمام / خود چه باشد قوّت تقلیدِ عام

Translation: The Christians gave their hearts entirely to him, / What indeed is the power of common imitation (taqlīd-e ʿāmm)? Meaning: This couplet describes how easily the common folk commit their hearts to a deceiver, prompting Rumi to question the nature and dangerous influence of such blind, popular imitation.

This couplet immediately follows the tale of the cunning minister who, to infiltrate the hearts of Christians, feigned Zoroastrianism and asked the king to mutilate him. Rumi, with a poignant yet precise articulation, delves into the nature of the 'power of common imitation (taqlīd-e ʿāmm).' I contend that this is an immediate pointer to humanity's vulnerability to deception and the destructive force of uncritical collectivism. Rumi harbored a deep disdain for 'disciple-making' (murīd-parvari) and 'disciple-mongering' (murīd-bāzī), viewing it as a forbidden form of exploitation. Elsewhere, he likens this act to 'hunting a pig': 'For common hunting is like hunting a pig, / The effort is futile, and eating its morsel is forbidden.' This means not only is the effort vain and useless, but even if one succeeds in catching the pigs, the outcome (pork) is unlawful and impure. This reveals Rumi's abhorrence for the gathering of common people around 'pseudo-Sufis' who laid claim to the spiritual mantle of figures like Kharaqānī and Bayazid. He himself chose his disciples from the most downtrodden classes, shunning those who sought worldly status and recognition. Rumi here laments that when the masses gather around a deceiver, they create a formidable power that makes uprooting such a false tradition exceedingly difficult. As critics often argue, contemporary Christianity is widely seen as Pauline Christianity rather than the Christianity of Jesus. This, indeed, serves as prime evidence for this very 'power of common imitation,' demonstrating how it can alter the course of a religion and how deeply rooted false traditions become, making their eradication a daunting task even for future generations. Rumi views this as a form of corruption rooted in the common people's lack of insight and their unconditional surrender to appearances.

Key takeaways

• The danger of blind popular imitation and attachment to deceptive appearances.
• Rumi's sharp critique of disciple-making and the exploitation of naive followers by pseudo-sheikhs.
• The analogy of disciple-making to 'hunting a pig,' where the effort is futile and the outcome impure.
• The destructive power generated when common people coalesce around a deceiver, making such falsehood difficult to uproot.
• Common imitation can alter the course of a tradition and entrench false customs.