M6:388 — کاروانی دید از دور آن ملک / گفت امیری را برو ای مؤتفک

Translation: The King, from afar, espied a caravan; / To an emir he said: "Go forth, O you sinner!" Meaning: The king, intending to test his courtiers, saw a distant caravan and dispatched one of his emirs to gather information about it.

This verse marks the beginning of the delightful tale of Ayaz and the envy of the other emirs, a narrative that beautifully illustrates the king's wisdom and the courtiers' limitations. The king, fully aware of the emirs' malice toward Ayaz, devises a test to expose their ignorance and shortsightedness. As a caravan appears in the distance, the king summons an emir and dispatches him to make inquiries. A notable point in this verse is the word mu'tafik, meaning 'sinner' or 'liar'. It is certain that the king did not consider this emir a sinner at the very outset; rather, this choice of word, more than carrying an immediate moral implication, points to a metrical and rhyming necessity. Mowlana, as observed repeatedly in the Masnavi, sometimes selects words for the sake of poetic rhythm and structure that might, at first glance, seem to carry a specific meaning, but their primary function is to complete the poetic framework. Of course, this word might implicitly hint at the ineffectiveness and internal deficiencies of these emirs, which will become evident later in the story. The king asks the emir to gather information about the caravan, but this emir only provides a partial answer and proves incapable of responding to further questions, thus setting the stage for demonstrating Ayaz's superior insight and comprehensiveness compared to the superficiality of the other emirs.

Key takeaways

• Mowlana's word choices are sometimes dictated by meter and rhyme, not solely by direct moral meaning.
• The Masnavi's stories, seemingly simple, carry profound lessons in practical wisdom.
• Through a simple test, the king reveals the lack of foresight and comprehensive understanding among his emirs.
• Outward events in the narrative serve as a prelude to uncovering deeper truths and distinguishing character.