M6:355 — چون نبودش تخم صدقی کاشته / حق برو نسیان آن بگماشته

Translation: Since he had sown no seed of sincerity (sidq), The Truth (Haqq) ordained forgetfulness (nisyān) of it upon him.

Meaning: Mowlana asserts that when an individual fails to cultivate true sincerity and commitment within themselves, the Divine Reality (Haqq) consequently imposes forgetfulness of that covenant upon them.

I believe this verse in the Masnavi offers a profound and pivotal insight into the nature of will and forgetfulness on the path of spiritual journey. Mowlana here refers directly to the story of Adam in the Holy Quran, Surah Taha, where it states: "And We had already taken a covenant from Adam before, but he forgot, and We found not in him firm resolve." This forgetfulness of Adam, as I understand it, is not merely a simple oversight, but rather the consequence of the absence of the 'seed of sincerity' (takhme sidq). Sincerity here means truthfulness and pure intention in upholding a covenant; in other words, the lack of a firm and steadfast will paves the way for nisyān (forgetfulness).

I have often stated that we are the descendants of that same Adam, and the lightning bolt of disobedience that struck the pure Adam also afflicts us. This verse teaches us that forgetfulness and irresolution are the consequence of not internalizing sincerity. That is to say, if we repent or make a decision, but our heart is not purified of impurities, the possibility of returning to past errors always exists. It is here that Mowlana speaks of 'strangers' (bīgānegān); that 'polluted self' which has nested within us and held our pure self hostage. We sometimes mistake ourselves for these strangers; this is the very alienation or 'taking oneself for another' (az khod bīgānegi) that Mowlana describes.

Mowlana illuminates this truth with the analogy of the night thief who extinguishes the sparks from the flint. You see, a spark of sincerity flickers in your heart, a decision for truth, but if the inner thief – those very strangers of the self – has not been expelled, they extinguish these sparks one by one. The Truth (Haqq) 'ordained forgetfulness of it upon him' (haqq bar u nisyān ān bogmāshte); this does not mean that God unjustly causes someone to forget, but rather that the very absence of sincerity in the realm of the servant's will necessitates forgetfulness from the Divine. This is a mechanism of spiritual reality: whenever the servant fails to sow complete and utter sincerity in their heart, and their will is weak, God, as a result of this weakness, facilitates the path of forgetting that covenant, allowing them to follow the crooked path by their own choice and will. The only way to become unified with oneself and expel these strangers, according to Mowlana, is through the path of love and purity.

Key takeaways

• Spiritual forgetfulness (nisyān) of a covenant is a direct consequence of the lack of 'sincerity' (sidq) and pure intention within the heart.
• Irresolution and the absence of firm resolve lead to forgetfulness and a relapse into past errors.
• One must expel internal 'strangers' and impurities; otherwise, every spark of sincerity will be extinguished by the inner 'thief'.
• This verse references the Quranic story of Adam and his lack of resolve, illustrating human nature's disposition towards divine covenants.
• The Truth (Haqq) ordains forgetfulness not out of injustice, but as the inevitable outcome of the servant's lack of sincerity and pure will.