M6:3877 — آن سکون سابح اندر آشنا / به ز جهد اعجمی با دست و پا

Translation: That calm of the knowing swimmer in the water Is better than the flailing struggle of the ignorant with hands and feet. Meaning: The graceful ease of a person who possesses deep knowledge and skill is vastly superior to the frantic, ineffectual struggles of one who is ignorant or unskilled.

Mowlana in this verse illuminates a fundamental contrast between action born of knowledge and serenity, and the fruitless struggles that stem from ignorance. This theme follows his discussion of the 'sleep of the knowing one' (nawm-i ʿālim) versus the 'worship of the ignorant' (ʿibādat-i jāhil), where he asserts that the sleep of the wise is superior, for the wise know when and how to act. He then introduces 'awakening knowledge' (ʿilm-i mustanbih)—knowledge that brings awakening, not heedlessness; knowledge that unravels knots, not mere intellectual 'toys.' This verse directly extends that point, explaining the nature of this 'awakening knowledge.'

"That calm of the sābeh (swimmer) in the āshnā (knowing one)" paints a vivid picture of such knowledge and awakening. Sābeh means swimmer, and āshnā here refers to both 'one who is familiar with swimming' and simply 'a swimmer.' A skilled swimmer, proficient in their art, can rest calmly on the water. This tranquility is the fruit of their mastery and their awareness of the water's currents and depths. This stillness and calm are signs of competence and dominance, not passivity or inaction.

In contrast, "the flailing struggle of the aʿjami (ignorant) with hands and feet" presents the opposite. Aʿjami refers to someone who is inarticulate, ignorant, one who knows no skill. Such a person's efforts in the water only lead to frantic, ineffectual flailing and ultimately to drowning. This struggle arises neither from knowledge nor leads to any specific destination. With this simile, Mowlana intends to convey that effort devoid of insight and knowledge, however fervent it may appear, is ultimately fruitless and may even lead to ruin. Conversely, calm and informed action, even if it seems understated, is effective and reaches its goal.

I see this as Mowlana's profound insight into the quality of being and existence. He argues that in the boundless ocean of existence, only those armed with awakening knowledge and skilled in the arts of living and arriving can navigate with serenity and confidence. Others, even if they strive for a lifetime, will drown in their own desperate struggles. This knowledge is not merely academic; it is a profound understanding that permeates the soul and creates insight—a wisdom that frees one from the bonds of futile endeavors and leads to an active, dynamic stillness. This resonates with the saying, "Manhūmān lā yashbaʿān" (two hungry ones are never sated—the seeker of knowledge and the seeker of wealth), but Mowlana here points to the type of knowledge and the quality of its pursuit: seeking knowledge that culminates in knowing calm, not blind struggle.

Key takeaways

• The calm derived from knowledge and skill surpasses the fruitless struggles of ignorance.
• Mowlana values "awakening knowledge" (ʿilm-i mustanbih) which leads to conscious action and dynamic stillness.
• The "flailing of the ignorant" (aʿjami) symbolizes undirected, ineffective effort that leads to drowning.
• A skilled swimmer navigates even deep waters with calm, reaching their destination.
• This verse is an invitation to acquire knowledge that fosters inner insight and leads to effortless, effective actions.