M6:12 — گفت از بانگ و علالای سگان / هیچ واگردد ز راهی کاروان

Translation: It was said: from the barking and howling of dogs, / Does a caravan ever turn back from its path? Meaning: This rhetorical question asserts that the clamor of critics or the ignorant will never deter seekers of truth or the caravan of divine guidance from its destined course.

This verse appears in continuation of Mawlana's profound discussion on whether "secrets can only be shared with those who know them" and "a secret is not heard by the ear of a denier." With this rhetorical question, Mawlana reminds us of a crucial point: the divine invitation and the journey of the caravan of truth are never halted by the clamor of the ignorant or the opposition of critics. Suppose I am permitted to reveal secrets more clearly; would every ear be capable of hearing them? Assuredly not. Just as the barking of dogs does not deter a caravan, the denial and opposition of unbelievers do not stop the speaking and articulation of truth.

Mawlana immediately reinforces this meaning with other analogies. For instance, he asks: "Or does the full moon's journey falter / Because of the barking of dogs in the moonlight?" That is, does the movement and speed of the full moon on a moonlit night slow down or stop due to the clamor of a few dogs in the desert? Absolutely not. He then answers: "No, the moon sheds light, and the dog barks; / Each acts according to its own nature." This is a universal principle: every being, from the moon that radiates light to the dog that barks, acts according to its essence and innate disposition. Divine decree, that is, divine governance, has assigned a service to each, testing each according to its essence.

I myself have often stated that Mawlana, on the level of the greatest mystics of the world, does not perceive the world as "crooked" so as to "complain" about it. He is not a complainant, but a "narrator." "Am I complaining about the Soul of the soul? / I am not the complainant; I am the narrator." He sees deficiency in the imperfect perception of the beholder. If the dog does not cease its sickening bark, why should the moon cease its illumination and the leader its journey?

Thus, this verse not only grants us an image of steadfastness but also reveals the roots of this steadfastness in the unicity of divine acts (tawhīd afʿālī) and faith in a balanced and perfect cosmic order. Here, even opposites exist in equilibrium, each having its place in existence. In this manner, the call to truth continues, regardless of the acceptance or rejection of listeners; just like Noah who preached for nine hundred years, despite his people's denial increasing day by day.

Key takeaways

• Truth and the divine call are not deterred by the clamor of critics and the ignorant.
• The journey of the caravan of truth is like the steadfastness of the moon against the barking of dogs.
• Every being acts according to its nature and follows its own path.
• Mawlana does not perceive the world as 'crooked' to complain about it; he is a narrator, not a complainer.
• This analogy serves as a decisive response to deniers of secrets and critics intending to discourage truth-seekers.