M6:704 — من ندانم که تو ماهی یا وثن / من ندانم تا چه می‌خواهی ز من

Translation: I do not know if you are a moon or an idol (wathan), I do not know what you desire from me.

Meaning: This couplet expresses profound bewilderment and wonder before a Beloved whose identity and intentions are veiled, leaving the seeker in a state of utter unknowing.

This couplet emerges from a vibrant tale in the Masnavi, where Mawlana recounts the story of a Turkish minstrel who persistently sings the refrain, 'I do not know' (mi-nadan-am). This 'unknowing' is far from a mere admission of ignorance; it signifies a profound mystical and philosophical stance. I firmly believe that this act of negation and declaration of unawareness constitutes a fundamental step on the path of spiritual journeying. Before we can truly know anything, before we can affirm anything, we must first divest ourselves of all preconceptions, false imaginings, and egoistic desires. This is precisely what the minstrel accomplishes.

I interpret this as the Sufi principle of tazkiya (purification or denudation) preceding tahliya (adornment or filling). Before we can fill a pond with clear water, we must first cleanse it of all mud, silt, and refuse. If we pour pure water onto impurities, the water itself becomes contaminated. Hence, the minstrel's 'I do not know' signifies the rejection of all superficial knowledge, all identities we have projected onto the Beloved (be it moon or idol), and all desires we have harbored regarding Him.

This unknowing is, in fact, a form of profound knowing—the knowing that one cannot reach truth with existing knowledge. It is a surrender, an emptying of the heart from every preconceived image and eternal expectation, so that Truth can manifest itself as it truly is. This is a process of 'formlessness' (bi-ṣūratī); as Mawlana himself emphasizes, Truth is formless, and any form we hold in our minds is merely a veil. Thus, 'I do not know' is not a weakness, but rather the very essence of the soul's readiness and strength to receive authentic, unmediated gnosis.

Key takeaways

• The minstrel's 'I do not know' is not ignorance, but a deliberate act of shedding preconceptions.
• This negation is the initial step in self-purification (tazkiya), emptying the heart to receive pure gnosis.
• Divesting oneself of superficial knowledge and egoistic desires is a prerequisite for affirming and recognizing truth.
• This state of bewilderment is an openness that allows for the manifestation of formless reality.