1Cademy - Iblis and the Critique of Flawed Analogy in the Masnavi

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مثنوی معنوی: دفتر اول / Masnavi: Book One
دفتر اول - بخش ۱۵۵ - اول کسی کی در مقابلهٔ نص قیاس آورد ابلیس بود / Book One - Section 155 - The First One Who Brought Analogy in Opposition to the Explicit Text Was Iblis

Concept

Iblis and the Critique of Flawed Analogy in the Masnavi

In the Masnavi, Jalaluddin Rumi identifies Iblis as the first to utilize flawed analogy ( $qiyas$ ) to prioritize material origin over divine command. By arguing that fire is superior to clay, Iblis prioritized biological lineage ( $ansab$ ) over spiritual merit. Rumi refutes this logic, teaching that true excellence is found in Godwariness ( $taqwa$ ) and spiritual inheritance rather than the perishing world of physical ancestry. He employs the metaphor of the $qibla$ to illustrate that while intellectual effort is useful when truth is obscured, it becomes a hindrance in the presence of direct spiritual illumination. Ultimately, this critique warns seekers that relying on personal supposition or reflected light can lead to spiritual pride and a fall from heavenly stations.