Concept

The Value of Perpetual Spiritual Striving and Restlessness in the Masnavi

In Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavi, during the merchant's lamentation in the Tale of the Merchant and the Parrot (Book 1, Section 92), Rumi delivers a profound discourse on the spiritual value of constant effort and inner agitation. He asserts that the Divine loves human restlessness and yearning (ashoftegi) on the spiritual path, famously stating that even seemingly useless striving is far better than passive sleep or complacency (koushesh-e bihoodeh beh az khoftegi). Rumi admonishes the seeker to keep scraping and carving (mitarash o mikharash) and never remain idle for a single moment until their final breath. This highlights the Sufi doctrine that the struggle itself, characterized by active yearning, is a form of spiritual purification and a prerequisite for receiving divine grace.

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Updated 2026-06-07

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Persian Literature Prerequisite Course