M6:4243 — در فلان کوی و فلان موضع دفین / هست گنجی سخت نادر بس گزین

Translation: In that certain street and that certain place, concealed, There is a treasure, exceedingly rare and most choice. Meaning: This couplet, spoken by an unseen voice (Hatif), directs a man in search of wealth to a specific, yet anonymous, location in a distant city where a great and precious treasure is buried.

In this couplet, Mawlana speaks through the voice of the "Hatif," that unseen caller who, in ancient Arab culture, was considered a mythical yet real entity, conveying messages from beyond the veil. It is this Hatif who reveals the location of a hidden treasure to a man from Baghdad, a treasure described as "exceedingly rare and most choice," meaning both scarce and immensely valuable.

Here, a profound irony unfolds. The man, destined for a great treasure, not only fails to become wealthy but loses his meager possessions on this seemingly promising journey. He arrives in Egypt, a city then renowned as the "source of sugar" and a place of abundance, only to find himself destitute and forlorn, to the point where the shame of begging by night overcomes him. This paradox—journeying towards treasure only to arrive at beggary—is one of the subtleties of the Mathnawi's tales, where great depth is hidden beneath a veneer of apparent folly.

The Hatif, this mysterious voice, precisely specifies "that certain street and that certain place" (falān kuy o falān mawziʿ). This emphasis on a "specific" yet "unspecified" location is itself an allusion. It is as if the treasure we seek is simultaneously very close and yet in a place that must be discovered within a deeper experience. The treasure the man pursues may not be gold and silver, but rather an experience of the self and a confrontation with his hidden weaknesses and aspirations. This tale serves as a prelude to an inner journey that Mawlana frequently alludes to in the Mathnawi; a journey in which one must abandon the search for external riches and turn towards the inner treasure, a treasure often found in apparent poverty.

Key takeaways

• The unseen voice (the Hatif) plays a pivotal role in guiding destiny, yet its path is often fraught with paradox.
• True treasure is not necessarily found in obvious places or through external pursuits; sometimes, the path to it involves destitution.
• Mawlana's tales often carry deep paradoxes that challenge superficial appearances, inviting deeper reflection.
• The specificity of "that certain street and place" suggests a seemingly concrete location, but its discovery ultimately requires an inner journey.
• Separation from superficial possessions can become a catalyst for discovering spiritual riches.