M6:3555 — تا بماند دو قضیه سر و راز / هم نگردد مثنوی چندین دراز

Translation: So that those two matters remain secret and mysterious, And so that the Mathnawi does not become so excessively long. Meaning: The poet offers two reasons for withholding certain details: to preserve their enigmatic nature as secrets, and to prevent the Mathnawi from becoming overly protracted.

Here, Mowlana, with a lucid and self-aware voice, recounts through the deceased character's dream why two significant matters are withheld. This choice is not merely a narrative device; it reflects Mowlana's profound insight into the nature of truth and the purpose of his work. Firstly, he wishes these two issues to remain “secret and mysterious” (sar o rāz). This points to a deeper gnosis, a rāz-shenāsi (secret-knowing), where certain truths are inherently unutterable. They reside in the realm of experience and intuition, not rational exposition; their articulation might diminish their depth. The second reason, which reveals Mowlana's frankness and self-awareness, is “so that the Mathnawi does not become so excessively long” (ham nagardad Mathnawi chandin derāz). This is Book Six of the Mathnawi, and Mowlana seems to sense he is nearing the end of his life's journey. Perhaps he feels death is lurking, and he must shorten his discourse to bring the Mathnawi to completion. This itself is a crucial point: Mowlana is acutely aware of time and the length of his own magnum opus. This choice by Mowlana to “not say” something echoes his broader approach throughout the Mathnawi. I have often pointed out that Mowlana’s silences are as meaningful as his utterances. He says nothing about many historical events (such as the Mongol invasion) or theological disputes that plagued his world. These silences stem not from oversight, but from deliberate choice; he addresses “separation” and the return to one’s “origin,” not the fleeting details of temporal existence. Here too, he chooses not to reveal two “secrets,” both to preserve the sanctity of the “mystery” and to prevent the book from straying from its core purpose. However, one must not forget that this is also a narrative technique. By “not saying,” Mowlana stimulates the reader's appetite and curiosity, engaging their mind with the “unsaid.” This is a form of invitation to contemplation and profound reflection, prompting the reader to seek out these secrets for themselves, rather than receiving them ready-made. This approach is not dissimilar to what in Western philosophy is called “Deconstruction” of a text—where what is not said holds as much significance as what is said. Mowlana thereby makes the reader understand that beyond the spoken word, there is always a realm of untold truths, access to which requires the reader's own internal journey and deep engagement.

Key takeaways

• Some truths are inherently enigmatic and must remain unsaid to preserve their profound depth.
• Mowlana was aware of the Mathnawi's length and his own mortality, condensing his discourse towards the end of his life.
• Mowlana's silences, like his words, are deliberate and profound, avoiding fleeting historical or political details.
• Withholding certain details is a narrative technique to provoke curiosity and invite the reader to deeper contemplation.
• Gnosis (rāz-shenāsi) and silence offer a path to understanding truths beyond mere verbal argumentation.