M6:1032 — باز کرد استیزه و راضی نشد / که برین افزون بده بی‌هیچ بد

Translation: He renewed his stubborn haggling and was not satisfied, saying, "Give more than this, without any other recourse [for me to yield]." Meaning: In the continuing story of Bilal's purchase, Mowlana describes how the Jewish slave owner, despite being momentarily swayed by the beauty of Abu Bakr's slave, still yielded to greed and demanded an additional sum beyond the agreed-upon exchange.

I wish to offer a precise interpretation of this verse from the Masnavi, situated within the narrative of Bilal. Prior to this verse, Mowlana recounts how Abu Bakr, seeking to free Bilal, offers the Jewish slave owner a handsome, white-skinned but infidel slave in exchange. This offer softens the stone-like heart of the Jew, who is captivated by appearances: "Such was the state of the form-worshippers; their stone was turned to wax by a mere form." This in itself is a profound insight into how external beauty can influence even hardened, loveless hearts.

However, Mowlana immediately completes this depiction in the present verse, demonstrating the limits of this superficial softening of the heart and its frailty when confronted with avarice and greed. This very Jew, whose heart had turned to "wax," "renewed his stubborn haggling and was not satisfied." That is, he reverted to his contentious and argumentative nature,, what we call 'hard bargaining,' refusing to be content with what he had previously agreed to. Here, Mowlana employs the term estīze, which signifies contention and persistence in negotiation.

The Jew then turns to Abu Bakr and states, "Give more than this, without any other recourse (bī hīch bad)." The word bad here is crucial, and Mowlana, elsewhere, clarifies its meaning as 'remedy' or 'another option,' akin to the Persian lābod (inevitably). He effectively says, "Add something more to this transaction we've made for me to be satisfied, and you have no other choice." In other words, he exploits Abu Bakr's fervent desire to free Bilal, pressuring him by implying that he has no alternative but to pay more. Immediately following this verse, Mowlana clarifies that this "more" was, in fact, "a niṣāb of silver," which Abu Bakr was compelled to add to the transaction to appease the Jew's greed.

This verse eloquently illustrates the profound contrast between form-worship and soul-worship. The Jew symbolizes one who considers only appearances and material gain. Even the beauty of Abu Bakr's slave (the ṣūrat or form) temporarily affects him, but this impact is superficial, and at the first opportunity, his deeper greed and avarice take hold of his heart. In contrast, Abu Bakr looks to Bilal's jān (soul) and is willing to pay an exorbitant price for it, even if it means succumbing to the greed of form-worshippers. Mowlana states that Abu Bakr responded, "My gaze is on his soul; yours is on his color (lon)." This verse, in essence, demonstrates how covetousness and hard bargaining can overcome any temporary influence of beauty or even a softening of the heart, ultimately revealing the materialistic nature of man. This is a profound lesson in human psychology and, indeed, Mowlana's critique of superficiality; a critique of those who are enslaved by outward forms, whose inner doors remain closed to them.

Key takeaways

• Outward beauty can soften a stony heart, but this softening is often superficial and transient.
• Greed and avarice possess a potent force that overshadows even the allure of beauty and dictates one's decisions.
• Mowlana highlights the stark contrast between form-worship and soul-worship: one sees color, the other sees soul.
• This verse critiques those who are enslaved by appearances and material gain, thus remaining oblivious to inner realities.
• Persistence in bargaining can stem from greed, which exploits the weakness and desire of the opposing party.