M6:4266 — اهل دیوان بر عسس طعنه زدند / که چرا دزدان کنون انبُه شدند

Translation: The court officials reproached the night-watchman, Saying, "Why have thieves become so numerous now?"

Meaning: This verse captures a moment in the story of the stranger and the night-watchman, where governing officials accuse the watchman of negligence, implicitly blaming him for the rising tide of theft.

This couplet appears amidst the tale of the stranger and the night-watchman (ʿasass), a story Mowlana uses to illustrate the profound power of truthfulness. I argue that the 'ahl-i dīvān' (court officials) here represent the governing authority, the very top echelon of the executive system. Instead of acknowledging systemic failures or their own shortcomings, they direct the spearhead of blame squarely at the ʿasass, the field agent and enforcer of the law. This is a recurring dynamic throughout history: those in power displace responsibility for macro-level societal ills onto those below them, accusing them of why thieves have become so numerous.

Prior to this verse, the Amir or Caliph had issued harsh decrees, commanding the ʿasass to show no mercy to thieves, even if they were the Amir's own relatives, and to cut off their hands. This order was accompanied by threats: 'Why are you merciful to thieves? Why do you believe their charms and deceits, or accept bribes from them?' Thus, in this context, the accusation from the ahl-i dīvān to the ʿasass carries two implications: first, inefficiency in crime control, and second, the potential for collusion and corruption—especially under such severe governmental mandates.

Mowlana further enriches this narrative by referencing a crucial ethical principle from Imam Ali's letter to Malik Ashtar: 'Lessen your concern for the distress of the elite, and attend to the distress of the common people.' This ethical advice is paradoxically inverted in the story's ruling system. The ahl-i dīvān, through their accusations, ultimately aim to safeguard the 'zar-i muḥtasham,' the wealth of the affluent and the elite, even if it comes at the cost of ruthlessness and injustice towards innocent strangers and the poor. This resonates with Mowlana's own parable of the 'aṣbaʿ-i maldugh' (bitten finger): to ward off the evil of a poisoned finger, it must sometimes be amputated to protect the entire body from venom. However, here, this principle is distorted to justify cruelty and preserve the interests of a select few, rather than to serve universal justice.

The tragedy of this scene culminates when the unfortunate ʿasass, under the weight of such blame, brutally beats the innocent stranger, mistakenly accusing him of being a thief and an accomplice to the swelling numbers. This couplet aptly demonstrates the top-down pressure that creates catastrophe through a culture of evasion of responsibility. The ahl-i dīvān, without investigating root causes, merely observe the superficial outcome (the increase in thieves) and blame the enforcer. Yet, the pivotal point of the story, immediately following this, is when the stranger's sincerity and truthfulness melt the ʿasass's heart and bring him peace. This exemplifies the contrast between deceptive appearances and the calming power of truth, a theme Mowlana consistently emphasizes: 'The heart finds peace in righteous speech, just as a thirsty person finds peace in water.' Ultimately, this tale is included in the Masnavi to lead us to the profound distinction between truth and falsehood; truth, even in the heart of dark blame and injustice, illuminates the path.

Key takeaways

• The verse exemplifies the evasion of responsibility by ruling powers, projecting systemic issues onto executive implementers.
• High-ranking officials attribute structural weaknesses to the incompetence or complicity of field agents to safeguard the wealth of the elite.
• Top-down pressure and threats compel enforcers towards cruelty and injustice against the common people.
• The narrative highlights the tension between superficial blame (the rise of thieves) and the hidden truth (the stranger's innocence).
• Mowlana uses this story to set the stage for demonstrating the power of sincerity and the comforting nature of truth, even against suspicion and violence.
• The tale illustrates how prioritizing the interests of the 'muḥtasham' (elite) over the 'ʿāmmah' (common people) leads to oppression and injustice.