In Section 52 of 'Salaman and Absal' (from 'Haft Awrang'), Jami addresses the theological dilemma of predestination versus active human effort. Responding to the fatalistic argument that pre-ordained capacity renders human striving useless, Jami argues that an individual's psychological and spiritual reaction to the truth of predestination reveals their innate spiritual destiny:

1. The Sign of Wretchedness (Shaqawat): If the realization of pre-ordained destiny leads an individual to passivity, laziness, and quietism (' عطلت و تن آسایی '), it is a sign of spiritual wretchedness and eternal rejection.
2. The Sign of Salvation (Sa'adat): Conversely, if understanding predestination inspires spiritual struggle, discipline, and persistent effort (' مجاهده و کوشش '), it serves as a sign of salvation and the elevation of spiritual ranks.

Jami illustrates this dual effect of a single truth through two key metaphors:

• The Water of the Nile: Just as the Nile's water turned to bl...