M6:4112 — آن پدر بهر دل او اذن داد / گفت چون اینست میلت خیر باد

Translation: That father gave permission for his sake (Joseph's), / He said, "Since this is your inclination, may it be well." Meaning: This verse, part of the story of Joseph and his brothers, refers to the father's (Jacob's) yielding to his children's desires, and implicitly explores the consequences of such concession in the context of needing true guidance.

This verse touches upon a crucial moment in the story of Joseph and his brothers, where the brothers plead with Jacob to allow them to take Joseph to the fields to play. Jacob, initially apprehensive, eventually yields to his children's insistence, saying, "Since this is your inclination, may it be well." Mowlana views this moment not merely as a historical event but as a significant point in spiritual wayfaring.

As I have stated previously, in earlier verses, Mowlana emphasized that "It is better for the blind man to have a guide than a solitary certainty / For one is a shame, and the other a hundred times more so." This means that relying on an individual, solitary "certainty," especially when our inner vision is incomplete, is far more perilous than entrusting ourselves to a discerning guide. The father, Jacob, here is not in the role of a guide for the seeker, but rather as a loving parent who concedes to his child's "inclination" (mayl). This is "mayl," not "rashād" (right guidance). What Mowlana demands from a "Pīr-e Rashād" (a rightly-guiding Pīr) is not yielding to the disciple's desire, but guiding the disciple to the correct path, even if it goes against their inclination.

It is here that the preceding verse gains deeper meaning: "You flee from a gnat into a scorpion / You flee from a droplet into the ocean." Jacob in this instance, though well-intentioned, is in a sense permitting a "flight from a gnat" that ultimately leads to "falling into a scorpion's sting." He grants permission for "his sake" (for the sake of Joseph and his brothers' desires), but this permission, wittingly or unwittingly, paves the way for the brothers' deceit and casts Joseph into the well. This demonstrates that even noble intentions, when not coupled with clear vision and correct guidance, can lead to misdirection and harm.

Mowlana, through this narrative, wishes to convey that in the path of spiritual journey, yielding to one's own "mayl" or that of another, even if accompanied by a prayer of "may it be well," cannot substitute for the "rashād" of a true Pīr. A "Pīr-e Khar" (literally, 'donkey-Pīr' or 'a Pīr one purchases like a donkey') is one who acquiesces to the disciple's desires, not to the dictates of truth. Ultimately, although Joseph was saved from the well through divine grace, this salvation does not guarantee "that same divine favor" for every seeker. Many seekers may fall into such wells and never be rescued. Therefore, reliance on a guide characterized by "rashād" is vital and superior to yielding to mere "mayl." This is where the importance of choosing a Pīr becomes evident; a Pīr who is not merely a "Pīr-e Gardūn" (one who is old in years), but a "Pīr-e Rashād" (one who is mature in spiritual guidance).

Key takeaways

• Well-intentioned actions, without proper guidance and insight, can lead to misdirection and harm.
• In spiritual wayfaring, yielding to 'mayl' (personal inclination), even from a loving parent, cannot substitute for the 'rashād' (right guidance) of a true guide.
• Uttering 'may it be well' over an inclination that lacks true guidance can pave the way for deceit and metaphorical 'wells' of peril.
• Relying on solitary 'certainty,' especially when one's inner vision is incomplete, is more dangerous than entrusting oneself to a discerning guide.
• A true spiritual guide (Pīr-e Rashād) guides according to the truth, not merely the desires of their disciples.