M6:13 — یا شب مهتاب از غوغای سگ / سست گردد بدر را در سیر تگ

Translation: Or does the moon's swift course falter on a moonlit night, Because of the clamor of dogs?

Meaning: Mowlana poses a rhetorical question: Can the barking of dogs on Earth deter the full moon from its steady, luminous path? The implied answer is no; truth and beauty pursue their course regardless of distractions or detractors.

I am absolutely convinced that this couplet by Mowlana articulates a foundational truth about the nature of divine invitation and the place of truth in the world. Mowlana here offers a brilliant parable, one that follows his recounting of the Prophet Noah, who preached for nine hundred years, yet his people's denial only grew. The question arises: Did Noah cease to speak the truth? Does the divine invitation waver because of the clamor of deniers?

It is precisely at this point that this pivotal couplet emerges: “Or does the moon's swift course falter on a moonlit night, / Because of the clamor of dogs?” No, absolutely not. This example illustrates that the path of divine truths and their light, much like the movement of the full moon, traverses its course oblivious to base noises and objections. Dogs clamor according to their nature, and the moon illuminates according to its creation. Mowlana states: “The moon sheds light and the dog barks, / Each acts according to its own creation.” This is a central point in Mowlana's ontology: every being acts according to its essence and the service assigned to it by divine decree, and this varied behavior should not diminish the moon's radiance.

From Mowlana's perspective, the cosmos is a system governed by the balance of opposites. In the continuation of his discourse, he introduces the analogy of vinegar and sugar, explaining how both are constituent elements of sekajebīn (oxymel), one representing divine grace and the other divine wrath. These 'dogs,' these clamors, these 'vinegars,' are present in this world, and their existence does not negate the presence of 'sugar' or the 'moon.' Rather, they are part of a balanced system. This means we should not expect a world devoid of difficulties and opposition; instead, we must understand that pure truth follows its path independent of these 'sickly barks.' The seeker's duty is to recognize the light and cleave to it, not to await the silence of the dogs.

Key takeaways

• The divine invitation to truth, like moonlight, is undeterred by the clamor of deniers and opponents, maintaining its steady course.
• The presence of opposites and seemingly 'negative' elements (like dog barks) in the world is part of a balanced, divinely ordained system, and does not negate truth.
• Every being acts according to its creation and innate nature; the moon sheds light, and the dog barks, neither preventing the other from its path.
• The seeker of truth must remain steadfast on their path, undisturbed by the reactions of detractors or trivial opposition.