M6:3469 — جوز پوسیده‌ست دنیا ای امین / امتحانش کم کن از دورش ببین

Translation: This world is a rotten nut, O trustworthy one, Lessen its test; see it from afar. Meaning: Mowlana warns humanity that the world's alluring appearance is inwardly hollow and worthless. Therefore, one should view it with insight from a distance and avoid its temptations.

Mowlana, with his unique insight, teaches us not to be deceived by the superficial appearances of this world. He likens the world to a 'rotten nut' (jowz-e pooside); a walnut that seems wholesome and alluring from the outside, but when you crack it open, you find it's hollow and decayed within. This profound statement emerges from the tale of Khwarazmshah and his horse, where Emad-ul-Mulk reveals a hidden flaw in the horse, dissuading the king from his infatuation. The crucial point here is that Emad-ul-Mulk's vision was an 'eye of the ultimate' (chashm-e ma'al), a gaze towards the essence and end result, contrasting with the 'eye of the present' (chashm-e hāl) that only perceives the surface. As I have often reiterated, true intellect and foresight are precisely this: seeing the outcome from the very beginning. Anyone who only looks at appearances and judges hastily is not truly wise; they fall prey to the 'feeble deception' of the world.

This 'rotten nut' is not limited merely to wealth, status, or fame. No, absolutely not! I can state with certainty that many worldly sciences and fields of knowledge are also like rotten nuts. One is initially captivated and enchanted by them, but upon delving deeper, discovers their inherent hollowness and lack of substance. It is for this very reason that Mowlana instructs: 'Lessen its test; see it from afar.' This means, do not even engage with it, do not endeavor to test it, but rather observe it from a distance and move on, for I tell you this nut has no kernel. This profound, unfatigable perspective resonates with the words of prophets, who described the world as a 'carcass' (jīfa).

This same deceptive nature of the world is manifested when Satan, acting as a 'devilish broker' (dīv-e dallāl), approaches a person at the moment of death, attempting to barter their faith for a mere 'jug of water' (abrīq-e āb). Yet, that water itself is nothing but an illusion, devoid of real existence. Mowlana shrewdly demonstrates how tempting and deceptive promises initially appear as a full moon, only to eventually diminish into a thin, insignificant crescent and vanish. If, in our state of health and sound mind, we succumb to the deception of this 'rotten nut' and trade the precious jewels of our life and faith for mere walnuts, it is entirely predictable that we would fall prey to Satan's wiles in the agony of death. Mowlana's lesson is to not surrender our own vision to 'corrupted eyes' (dīd-e khasān), but to observe truth with insight and foresight.

Key takeaways

• The world is intrinsically hollow and worthless, despite its alluring facade; it must be viewed with discernment.
• True intellect is foresight (dor-andishi), the ability to perceive the ultimate outcome of matters from their very beginning.
• Beyond material possessions, many worldly sciences and attractions are ultimately like 'rotten nuts'—empty and superficial.
• Mowlana emphasizes relying on one's 'own sight' (dīd-e khod) and insightful observation, warning against being deceived by appearances or 'corrupted eyes.'
• Genuine faith should not be bartered for fleeting or illusory temptations, especially in moments of distress, as such promises are ultimately hollow.