M6:11 — هیچ از گفتن عنان واپس کشید / هیچ اندر غار خاموشی خزید

Translation: Did he ever pull back the reins of speech? Did he ever retreat into the cave of silence? Meaning: This rhetorical couplet asks if a prophet like Noah, facing the rejection of his people, ever gave up speaking and inviting them to truth, or withdrew into silence. The implied answer is a resounding no.

I state with conviction that Mowlana here speaks from a divine stance. After conceding that true mysteries are expressed through subtle and veiled allusions, and that not every ear is capable of grasping such secrets, he introduces a crucial qualification: despite all this, "the invitation comes from the Creator." This means the divine imperative to speak and declare truth, even in the face of the audience's incomprehension or outright denial, has been issued by God, and we have no choice but to persevere in it. It is here that this challenging couplet is posed: "Did he ever pull back the reins of speech? / Did he ever retreat into the cave of silence?" This is a rhetorical question, carrying the implicit answer, "no."

Did a prophet like Noah, who for nine hundred years continuously invited his people to the straight path and saw nothing but increasing denial and obstinacy, ever abandon his mission? Did he ever retreat into the corner of silence? Unquestionably not. This serves as a parable for Mowlana himself and the mission of the Masnavi. His mission, too, is the continuous articulation of truths, regardless of the degree of acceptance or rejection. Just as the moon, despite the clamor of dogs, does not cease to shine its light, so too the tongue that speaks truth does not desist from speaking because of the barking and clamor of deniers. The moon acts according to its "own nature" (khelqat-e khod mītanad) and fulfills its mission, and the man of God does likewise. This is the persistent nature of Truth itself, which, through whatever channel it manifests, carries its own unique creation and does not deviate from its path due to changing external conditions.

Key takeaways

• The divine imperative to speak truth comes from the Creator, and one must adhere to it even in the face of denial.
• The messenger of truth does not abandon their mission due to audience rejection or incomprehension, as exemplified by Prophet Noah.
• This couplet emphasizes Mowlana's resolve to continue articulating mysteries, despite knowing that not everyone is 'secret-knowing'.
• This perseverance is likened to the moon shining despite barking dogs; every phenomenon acts according to its inherent nature.