M6:2576 — کذب چون خس باشد و دل چون دهان / خس نگردد در دهان هرگز نهان

Translation: Falsehood is like a speck of dust, and the heart is like the mouth; that speck of dust will never remain hidden in the mouth. Meaning: This verse posits that a lie, no matter how concealed, will ultimately reveal itself, for the human heart, much like a mouth with a speck of grit, cannot tolerate falsehood and ceaselessly seeks to expel it.

I am convinced that Mowlana here articulates a profound psychological and ontological truth. He likens truth and falsehood to tangible, palpable things to illuminate their penetration and effect on human existence. Falsehood, this trivial “speck of dust” or “grit,” no matter how small it may seem, possesses a nature that never settles or finds peace within the “mouth of the heart.” Through this analogy, Mowlana conveys that human nature inherently recoils from lies. It is as if there is within us a “tracking and expelling system” for falsehood. Just as the tongue ceaselessly seeks to remove a thorn or pebble from the mouth to achieve comfort, so too does the heart find no rest in the face of lies. This disquiet is a sign of humanity’s truth-seeking فطرت (innate disposition). Truth and sincerity bring طمأنینه (tranquility) and peace, whereas lies create anxiety and knots. If someone speaks the truth, your heart finds peace in their words and yields to them; but in the face of falsehood, even if you remain silent, you sense a hidden deceit in the speaker, “a shard of glass in their very essence.” This perspective can be compared with that of philosophers like Kant, who emphasized the necessity of truth-telling even in difficult circumstances, but not merely for a psychological function, rather as an absolute moral duty. Mowlana here speaks from a deeper level: from the inherent incompatibility of falsehood with human nature itself. Falsehood not only harms externally but also creates internal turmoil and can never remain “hidden,” not even from oneself. It is impossible for a speck of dust to remain hidden in the mouth; each time the tongue encounters it, it reminds us of the unpleasant presence. Lies are similar; they constantly impinge upon our consciousness and steal our peace. Even if we tell a lie to ourselves, that “speck of dust” remains in the “mouth of our heart,” and until it is cast out, we will find no tranquility.

Key takeaways

• Human nature is inherently incompatible with falsehood; lies strip away inner peace.
• The human heart possesses an inherent 'lie detection system,' constantly seeking to expel it.
• Truth is the source of inner tranquility and peace; falsehood is the origin of anxiety.
• The concealment of lies, both from others and from oneself, is ultimately impossible; truth will reveal itself.