M6:429 — آن نظر در بخت چشم احول کند / کلب را کهدانی و کاهل کند

Translation: That outlook on fate makes the eye squint (aḥwal), / And renders the dog a straw-dweller (kahdānī) and lazy (kāhil). Meaning: This verse warns that constant reliance on luck and destiny distorts one's perception and paralyzes one's will, turning a person into an indolent and inactive being.

This verse is situated within a robust discussion in Book Six of the Masnavi, where Mawlana emphatically underscores human free will. Mawlana explicitly states that one must not attribute misdeeds to fate or destiny. This beyt poetically and vividly elaborates on this very point.

That constant “outlook on fate,” which interprets every occurrence as a consequence of good or ill luck, renders the inner eye “aḥwal.” “Aḥwal” here signifies squinting, having a crooked eye, or seeing double; it means one's perception of reality becomes distorted. A person who habitually attributes everything to chance loses the ability to discern their own contribution and the role of their will in events. They develop a kind of skewed vision that prevents a correct understanding of the relationship between action and consequence. This distortion in vision presents reality inversely and absolves the individual from accepting responsibility.

The consequence of this skewed vision is “kāhilī” (laziness) and inaction. Mawlana states that this outlook on fate “makes the dog a straw-dweller (kahdānī) and lazy (kāhil).” A “kahdānī” is a shelter made of straw for an animal; here it represents a dwelling or refuge. Mawlana uses the example of a dog, an inherently dynamic and active creature. Yet, if this dog remains confined to its “kahdānī” and surrenders everything to fate, it becomes “kāhil” and slothful, ceasing to move and strive. This is a profound metaphor for humanity: a being that inherently possesses the potential for action and change, but by succumbing to fatalism and sheer determinism, retreats into a corner of isolation and inertia.

Mawlana is, in effect, critiquing a mindset that shifts humans from being active agents to passive bystanders. He aims to convey that the afflictions we experience stem not from “luck” but from our own “ill-doing” (bad kardanī). If we fail to recognize this reality, our eye has become “aḥwal.” This verse calls for a realistic view of the world and an affirmation of individual will and responsibility. Humans are free; their hesitations (e.g., “Should I do this or that?”) are themselves evidence of this freedom. Therefore, instead of relying on luck and projection, one must “accuse oneself” (mutahim kun nafs-i khod rā) and accept the consequences of one's actions. This is not only the path to self-correction but also to reconciliation with divine justice.

Key takeaways

• Belief in sheer luck distorts one's vision, preventing recognition of one's own role in events.
• Projecting responsibility onto fate leads to laziness and inaction, robbing humans of their dynamism.
• Mawlana strongly critiques determinism, emphasizing human free will and individual responsibility.
• Suffering and problems are consequences of our own actions, not blind destiny.
• Humans are free agents and must hold themselves accountable, rather than blaming others or luck.