ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Imam Khomeini, Ethics and Politics Is Knowledge a Mental Aid, or Burden? In Book Two of the noble Mathnawī , Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Mawlawī [Balkhī ar-Rūmī] has a short and elegant story. An ignorant desert Arab has a sack full of grain and he wants it to load on top of his camel. But instead of dividing it into two, he takes another sack full of sand so as to balance the weight of the sack full of grain and load the two on both sides of the camel.

Along the way, a sage man becomes his co-traveler and talks with him. As he finds out that one half of the load is sand and it only causes trouble, he suggests to the Arab to empty the sack full of sand and to fill in its stead half of the grain so that the purpose [of having a balanced load over the camel] is also met and at the same time the camel’s load would become lighter.

Being glad of the wise solution and after executing the suggestion, the Arab asked the sage about his wealth and riches as he assumes that having this cogent mind he is supposed to possess everything.

However, the sage sorrowfully answers that he possesses nothing in this world: گفت: "واﷲ نيست يا وجهالعرب در همه مُلكم وجوه و قوت شب پا برهنه تن برهنه مىدوم هر كه نانى مىدهد، آنجا روم مر مرا زين حكمت و فضل و هنر نيست حاصل جز خيال و دردسر" “By God,” he replied, “O chief of the Arabs, in my whole property There is not the means of (buying) food for the night. I run about with bare feet and naked body. If any one will give me a loaf of bread—thither I go.

From this wisdom and learning and excellence (of mind) I have nothing but phantasy and headache.” [289] Astonished and disappointed by the futility of such knowledge, the Arab prefers his form of ignorance to such ominous wisdom and he asks the sage to part ways with him so that his misfortune would not descend upon him: دور بَر آن حكمت شومت ز من نطق تو شوم است بر اهل زَمَن يا تو آن سو رو، من اين سو مىدوم ور تو راه پيش، من واپس روم يک جوالم گندم و ديگر ز ريگ به بود زين حيله هاى مرده ريگ احمقيم بس مبارک احمقىاست كه دلم با برگ و جانم متقى است Take far away from me that unlucky wisdom of yours: Your speech is unlucky for (all) the people of the time.

Either you go in that direction, or I will run in this direction; Or if your way be forwards, I will go back. One sack of wheat and the other of sand Is better for me than these vain contrivings.