M6:352 — باز از یادش رود توبه و انین / کاوهن الرحمن کید الکاذبین

Translation: Again, repentance and groans slip from its memory; / For the All-Merciful weakens the deceit of the liars. Meaning: This verse speaks to the human tendency to repeatedly break repentance and forget past suffering when faced with temptation, reminding us that God ultimately weakens the plots of the deceitful.

This verse appears within the allegorical tale of the moth and the fire, a profound depiction by Mowlana of human vacillation in the path of repentance and oblivion. We are confronted here with a situation where a human being, much like a moth, is repeatedly drawn towards what they know to be scorching and destructive.

Mowlana paints a vivid picture: the moth, perceiving fire from afar as light, is drawn to it by a 'greed for gain' (t̤amaʿ-i sūd) and a 'greedy, forgetful, intoxicated heart' (ḥirṣ-i dil-i nāsī-o mast). Upon reaching it, its wings burn; it flees, shedding 'salt' (bitter tears), and 'repents' (tavba mī-ārad) of its actions. Yet, this repentance is fleeting, for 'again, oblivion draws them back to the fire' (bāz nesyān mī-kašad-ešān sūy-i nār). This cycle of repetition and forgetfulness speaks to the profound depth of human weakness and obsessive tendencies.

The crucial point here is that even after the moth comes to its senses and addresses the fire, calling it 'deceitful and a burner of the deluded' (kāzib-o maġrūr-sūz)—meaning it consumes and destroys those it deceives—'again, repentance and groans slip from its memory' (bāz az yād-eš ravad tavba-o anīn). This signifies that the lesson learned through suffering, the insight gained through lament and remorse, is once more consigned to oblivion. It underscores the profound instability and lack of steadfastness in the decisions of a seeker who is only halfway on the path.

The second hemistich, 'For the All-Merciful weakens the deceit of the liars' (kā-ohin al-Raḥmān kayd al-kādhibīn), is directly borrowed from the Holy Quran. By including it, Mowlana casts a divine perspective upon this human predicament. 'The deceit of the liars' (kayd al-kādhibīn) refers to the trickery and deception of those who lie. This deception could be the illusory allure of the world, which presents itself as beautiful and enticing (just as fire appears as light to the moth), or it could be the deception of the lower self that drives one to repeat mistakes, or even the machinations of Satan. The All-Merciful God ultimately weakens and dismantles these deceits. This is a vital point: despite all human weaknesses, there is a divine support and succour at play that prevents deception from persisting eternally; ultimately, truths are revealed, and deceptions are exposed. This offers a glimmer of hope amidst recurrent human frailties.

Key takeaways

• Human weakness in facing temptations and repeating self-inflicted errors.
• The 'repentance and oblivion' cycle: repentance is broken, and forgetfulness draws one back to destruction.
• The deceptive allure of appearances and the role of 'greed for gain' and a 'forgetful heart' in leading humans astray.
• Acknowledging the deceitful nature of temptation and its destructive power, yet forgetting this lesson again.
• Reliance on the Quranic promise that the All-Merciful weakens the deceit of liars, preventing permanent delusion.