Concept

Divine Determinism and Human Helplessness in Attar's Mokhtar Nameh (Chapter 21, Poem 28)

In Chapter 21, Poem 28 of Attar's Mokhtar Nameh, the poet explores the theme of absolute divine determinism (Jabr) and the consequent helplessness of the human condition. The quatrain argues that those possessing true intellectual insight recognize that human actions do not independently originate from human will. By explicitly stating that he 'turns exactly as they turn me', Attar emphasizes that the individual lacks ultimate agency, acting instead as a passive instrument of divine will. This reinforces the Sufi understanding of God as the sole true agent in existence.

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Updated 2026-07-04

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Humanities

Literature

Persian Literature Prerequisite Course