M6:2221 — ای دروغی که ز صدقت این نواست / شکر نعمت گو مکن انکار راست

Translation: O Lie, whose very sound (navā) issues forth from Truth (sidq) / Offer thanks for this bounty, deny not the Truth (râst). Meaning: Mowlana asserts that falsehood derives its very existence and potency from truth; without truth, a lie would have no basis or acceptance, thus it ought to be grateful for truth's existence and never deny it.

This verse is one of those rare instances where Mowlana delves into the nature of illusion and falsehood with an existential perspective. As a mystic, not a philosopher, he teaches us that no illusion, no fancy, no lie is without root or truth. “How can any illusion be without a truth? How can any heart proceed without a sound basis?” This statement is not to legitimize illusion but to emphasize the rootedness of all phenomena. Mowlana explicitly states: “How can a lie gain currency without truth? In both worlds, every lie originated from truth.” This is a universal principle; just as a counterfeit coin derives its value from a genuine one, and would be meaningless without it, so too a lie draws its worth from truth. A lie is a distorted form of truth, an attempt to conceal and falsify the real. As Mowlana says, “He saw truth’s currency and splendor / and in hopes of it, he set a lie in motion.”

Mowlana then addresses this very “Lie,” saying: “O Lie, whose very sound (navā) issues forth from Truth (sidq) / Offer thanks for this bounty, deny not the Truth (râst).” He asks the lie to be grateful for the existence of truth, for it gains its credibility and influence by imitating and mimicking truth. This is a profound reference to the parasitic nature of falsehood and lie relative to truth and honesty. Falsehood, like clothes borrowed from truth, arrays itself to gain acceptance; just as in the famous story, Falsehood dressed in Truth’s clothes by the spring and appeared among people in the garb of truth. Mowlana expresses this deep psychological and ontological reality perfectly: we should not fear or lament that truth is lost. No! The very existence of the lie and its acceptance is proof of the fundamental and pervasive nature of truth.

After articulating this philosophical and subtle point, Mowlana abruptly changes the course of his discourse: “Shall I speak of the ‘philosophaster’ and his conceits / Or of His ships and His seas?” He disparagingly refers to philosophers as “philosophasters” and distances himself from purely intellectual debates. His choice is clear: “Rather, of His ships; no, I have nothing to do with philosophers. I speak of the ships of this divine grace.” He turns to the narrative of “ships and seas,” a symbol of divine guidance and His saints. This is a conscious shift from rational argumentation toward mystical and intuitive guidance. For Mowlana, ultimate truth is not found in philosophical disputations but in seeking refuge in the “Ark of Noah,” meaning the divine saints. He recognizes every saint as a “Noah, the ship’s captain” and refers to association with “these people” as a “storm.” These “people” are not just strangers, but sometimes relatives and friends who “waste your days in interaction,” thereby squandering one’s life. As Sa’di says: “The devil does not mix with people, fear not / But fear people who are like devils.” Mowlana warns: “Flee not so much from lions and fierce dragons / But beware of acquaintances and kin,” because “No wretched soul whose harvest is burnt / Wishes anyone else’s candle to be lit.” Thus, one must avoid associating with those who bring coldness and failure, lest one’s own lamp of success be extinguished. This is the ultimate spiritual prudence in confronting the storms of life.

Key takeaways

• The very credibility and existence of falsehood are contingent upon the presence of Truth; falsehood is parasitic upon truth.
• The mere existence of a lie serves as evidence for the fundamental rootedness and prevalence of Truth, for which gratitude is due.
• Mowlana consciously shifts from purely philosophical debates toward mystical and intuitive guidance.
• Salvation from life's 'storm' of deception and futility lies in seeking refuge in the 'Ark of Noah,' represented by divine saints and true spiritual guides.
• Preserving one's spiritual and psychological well-being necessitates a conscious choice in companionship, even if it means distancing oneself from certain relatives and friends.
• Unsuccessful individuals may inadvertently draw others into a state of failure and spiritual coldness.