M6:3862 — آن زنان از جاهلی بر من تنند / اولیاشان قصد جان من کنند

Translation: That those women, out of ignorance, lust after me, / And their guardians will seek my life. Meaning: Spoken by a beardless youth, this verse laments the covetous gaze of women and the subsequent murderous intent of their awliyā (guardians), serving as a sharp social critique of moral decay.

This verse continues the lament of a beardless youth (amrad) who feels trapped by the moral chaos of Rumi's contemporary society. The character finds no refuge: not in the Sufi lodges (khanqahs), which Rumi himself notes sometimes devolved into unsafe 'bachelor houses' (azab-khāneh); nor among ordinary men, whose reason is overridden by lust (shahvat); and now, not even among women.

Rumi skillfully portrays the moral decay and the prevalence of jāhelī (ignorance, lack of wisdom) across various strata of society. The phrase, 'Those women, out of jāhelī, lust after me,' signifies that women, due to their lack of insight, self-control, or the overwhelming force of desire, cast covetous glances upon this youth or impose their desires upon him. This 'lusting' can be understood as leaning upon, demanding, or forcefully thrusting oneself upon someone.

Yet, the youth's suffering does not end there. A society itself entangled in jāhelī responds with, 'And their awliyā (guardians) will seek my life.' This is not merely a personal threat but a stark alarm about the depth of the moral and social crisis; where the rebellion of instinct leads to the lawless violence of the 'guardians,' responding to any perceived transgression with death. This depiction by Rumi illustrates that in such an environment, the vulnerable individual is caught between the morally corrupt and the unjustly punitive, finding no path to liberation.

This narrative is not just an isolated tale; rather, it is a prime example of Rumi's method of social critique and pathological analysis of his own time's culture. He reflects this explicitly and candidly, even using harsh language when fitting the character, within the Masnavi. This critique is not presented as abstract theorizing, but emerges from the lived experience of fictional characters, making the corruption vivid and palpable.

Key takeaways

• Rumi uses storytelling to offer a direct and unapologetic critique of the moral corruption prevalent in his society.
• The concept of jāhelī here extends beyond mere ignorance, pointing to a lack of wisdom stemming from the dominance of lust and self-control.
• The verse illustrates a vicious cycle of desire and violence in a society where the vulnerable individual finds no refuge.
• The mention of awliyā (guardians) highlights social and familial powers that respond to perceived transgressions with violence and threats to life, rather than reform.