M6:401 — پس بگفتند آن امیران کین فنیست / از عنایتهاش کار جهد نیست

Translation: Then those princes said, 'This is a native skill, / It is from His graces, not the fruit of effort.' Meaning: This verse presents the princes' deterministic view in the story of the Sultan and Ayaz, asserting that Ayaz's intelligence and excellence stem from divine grace, not his own striving.

This verse emerges within the extensive and perennial discussion of free will versus predestination in the Masnavi, specifically in the story of the Sultan and Ayaz. Faced with Ayaz's remarkable intelligence and perceptiveness, which were products of his foresight and diligence, the princes offer a deterministic explanation. They contend that these perfections are not the result of Ayaz's striving or effort. Instead, they claim, this is a "fann" – an innate talent or gift bestowed upon him by divine grace and favor. In their words, this aptitude stems "az enāyathāsh" (from His graces), implying it is a wellspring of divine kindness implanted in Ayaz's being, independent of any acquired effort. This perspective precisely mirrors the deterministic viewpoint that seeks to diminish the role of "effort" and "striving" in the manifestation of human excellences. Mawlana, however, unequivocally does not wish to convey that humans are entirely coerced. He has no desire to burden us with predestination or to reduce our agency. His overarching aim throughout the Masnavi, and particularly in this segment of the discussion, is to "somewhat lessen the burden of determinism and add weight to free will." This particular verse, in essence, reflects that very deterministic doubt that has persisted throughout the history of human thought, and which Mawlana endeavors to address meaningfully. The examples the princes provide, such as "It is God's portion for the moon to have a comely face / It is fate that has granted the rose its sweet scent," all bolster this view that the beauty of the moon or the fragrance of the rose are intrinsic, gifted attributes, unrelated to their own efforts, and bestowed solely by the Creator. This verse, in its turn, reminds us that even in the Sultan's court, there were always those who employed deterministic justifications to overlook the role of human will and endeavor.

Key takeaways

• This verse reflects a deterministic viewpoint within the Masnavi.
• The princes attribute Ayaz's excellences to divine grace, not individual effort.
• Mawlana generally strives to emphasize free will over predestination.
• This perspective highlights the gifted nature of talents, rather than their acquired aspect.
• Even within narrative contexts, Mawlana portrays the tension between determinism and free will.