M6:1112 — از بلال او بیش بود اندر روش / خوی بد را بیش کرده بد کشش

Translation: In his spiritual method, he was more advanced than Bilal; He had achieved a greater slaying of his bad habits. Meaning: Mowlana here posits the dedicated servant, Hilal, as spiritually more advanced than Bilal, highlighting his superior success in overcoming negative character traits and undesirable habits.

Following the story of Hilal, the insightful servant hidden in devotion, Mowlana introduces this verse to further illuminate Hilal's stature. In Mowlana's narrative, Hilal is a symbol of Mowlana himself — a sincere and pioneering servant who, for the sake of divine wisdom, conceals himself among people, appearing humble and weak.

Mowlana states that Hilal, in his spiritual method (ravish), had advanced even further than Bilal of Habasha, the Prophet's esteemed companion renowned for his piety and sincerity. The term ravish here refers to the path and manner of spiritual discipline. What elevates Hilal is his capacity for "slaying" and eradicating bad habits; he had kashish (killing) to his khuy-i bad (bad habits) — meaning, as I interpret it, he had given "death" to his ill dispositions. This indicates his profound success in the greater jihad against his own lower self, purifying his being from vices.

However, I must be frank: this verse is one of those instances where Mowlana, perhaps unwittingly, allowed the rhyme to dictate the poetry. It must be acknowledged that, in terms of structure and poetic strength, this is a rather weak verse. Such occurrences are occasionally found in the Masnavi, a work born of Mowlana's direct spiritual effusions and profound insight, rather than the painstaking craft and revision characteristic of a poet like Hafez. Mowlana prioritized the flow of meanings and the conveyance of his deep messages over the meticulous polishing of individual words.

Immediately after describing Hilal, Mowlana turns to his audience, admonishing them: "Not like you, who are ever lagging behind, receding from a jewel toward a stone." Hilal serves as an exemplary figure who advances spiritually and vanquishes ill habits, unlike those who regress and fall from precious essence to mere inert matter. This shows that, despite any poetic weakness, the verse carries a clear and profound didactic message: the crucial importance of self-purification and progress on the spiritual path, and the avoidance of regression in the journey of self-knowledge.

Key takeaways

• Mowlana presents Hilal in this narrative as a symbol of himself and his own spiritual station.
• True spiritual advancement is achieved through a complete mastery and eradication of one's negative character traits.
• Dr. Soroush identifies this verse as poetically weak, viewing it as evidence of the Masnavi's raw authenticity and unforced composition.
• Mowlana, after presenting Hilal as an ideal, calls upon his listeners to advance in self-purification and to avoid spiritual regression.