M6:2226 — در تلاقی روزگارت می‌برند / یادهاشان غایبی‌ات می‌چرند

Translation: In their encounters, they carry away your days; Their memories, in your absence, graze the pasture of your being.

Meaning: This couplet warns that association with unsuccessful or negative individuals, whether present or absent, wastes one's time and mental well-being; their memories, even in their absence, occupy the mind and erode peace.

Mowlana, in his crucial guidance for spiritual living, speaks of the 'storm of creation' (طوفان خلق) from which only 'Noah, the ship's captain' (نوح کشتی‌بان) can offer salvation. This couplet details that very storm, revealing it arises not from overt enemies, but from 'acquaintances and relatives' (آشنایان و خویشان)—those whom one might deem harmless, yet whose harm proves more fatal than any open adversary. Mowlana stresses that while one flees from lions and dragons, one fails to beware of devils in human guise. As Sa'di puts it: 'The devil does not mingle with people, fear not; rather, fear devil-like people.' These human-devils are precisely those who lead our lives and time to ruin.

I firmly believe this couplet offers a precise depiction of the poison of unhealthy companionship. These individuals, outwardly innocuous and even friendly, in reality 'carry away your days' (روزگارت می‌برند). That is, through idle talk, futility, and invitations to fruitless pastimes, they squander our precious lifespan. This group often finds itself bereft of spiritual and worldly blessings, and as Mowlana himself states: 'For every unfortunate whose harvest is burned, does not wish anyone's candle lit.' Those whose harvest of happiness is burnt cannot tolerate the bright flame of another, and unconsciously strive to drag others into their own coldness and darkness. Their gatherings are often filled with backbiting, falsehoods, slandering, and trespassing boundaries; to be present in such an environment undeniably darkens one's heart.

But the tragedy does not end there. The second line states: 'Their memories, in your absence, graze the pasture of your being.' Even when these individuals are absent, their memories do not release one. It is as if the mind becomes a pasture where their negative recollections graze, destroying one's peace and focus. This 'absence' (غایبیت) could refer to your absence from a spiritual presence or their absence from your sight; it matters not. In either case, their memory tramples and annihilates the pasture of your existence, which ought to be a fertile ground for new, tranquil thoughts. This is a serious warning: the destructive impact of associating with such individuals is not limited to their physical presence but penetrates the depths of our soul and psyche, holding our minds captive even in their absence. The only way to freedom is to escape this storm and seek refuge with the 'Noah, the ship's captain' of God's saints, preeminently Mowlana himself.

Key takeaways

• Associating with unsuccessful and negative individuals wastes precious time and life.
• The harm inflicted by ill-suited acquaintances can often be more destructive than that of overt enemies.
• Those who have failed in their own pursuit of happiness cannot tolerate the success of others and subtly try to drag them down.
• The detrimental effects of unhealthy companionship persist even in the absence of the individuals; their memories continue to disturb the mind.
• Inner peace and mental clarity are achieved by escaping the negative influences of the 'storm of creation'.