M3:4019 — لاف و غرهٔ ژاژخا را کم شنو / با چنینها در صف هیجا مرو

This couplet appears in a section where Rumi is discussing the nature of true courage and sincerity versus false bravado and hypocrisy. The preceding verses (M3:4017-4018) lament those who have abandoned true manliness and honor, becoming weak and effeminate. Their 'counselors' (critics) have kept them from genuine struggle, leaving them in this pathetic state. Against this backdrop, Rumi instructs his audience to be wary of those who engage in 'babbling' (ژاژخا, literally 'chewing nonsense') — those whose words are full of 'boast and pride' (لاف و غره) but lack substance.

The core message is a pragmatic warning: do not rely on or join forces with people who are all talk and no action, especially when facing a 'battle line' (صف هیجا). In Sufi thought, this 'battle' can be interpreted not just as physical warfare, but also as the spiritual struggle (جهاد اکبر) against one's lower self and the challenges of the path. Aligning with insincere or weak-willed individuals in such a struggle is not only unproductive but dangerous, as they will likely abandon the cause when faced with real difficulty, thereby breaking the 'heart of the line' (دل صف بشکنند, M3:4022) and undermining the collective effort. The following verses (M3:4020-4023) reinforce this, citing a Quranic principle about the undesirability of weak allies, emphasizing that a small, sincere force is better than a large one mixed with hypocrites.