Concept

Sanai's Critique of Servitude to Created Beings and Sycophancy in the Hadiqat

In Section 39 of the Hadiqat al-Haqiqah, Sanai presents a scathing moral and theological critique of sycophancy (khidmat-i makhluq) and the servitude of human beings to other created entities. Sanai highlights how worldly dependency degrades the human soul, comparing sycophants to dogs running after a vile master (siflah) for a mere morsel of bread. He condemns the extreme hypocrisy of courtiers and flatterers who perform acts of adoration (such as bowing or saying blessings over trivial actions) and bestow undeserved, hyperbolic praise—comparing ordinary fools to heroic figures like Ali or the generous Hatim al-Ta'i. Through this critique, Sanai argues that serving creation instead of the Creator represents a profound inversion of spiritual values, wherein a person willingly accepts oppression and sacrifices their intellect, dignity, and faith for transient material gain.

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Updated 2026-07-03

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Literature

Persian Literature Prerequisite Course