Overview

In Chapter 23, Poem 43 of the Mokhtar Nameh, Farid al-Din Attar emphasizes the fleeting nature of human existence and the urgent need to embark on the spiritual journey before life's limited time is exhausted.

Key Concepts

• Vain Desire vs. The Journey: Attar criticizes the human tendency to endlessly seek ways to improve or prolong worldly life ('seek a cure for our betterment') out of vain desire, arguing instead that one should joyfully and swiftly resolve to make the inevitable spiritual journey.
• Life as Capital: The poem employs the metaphor of life as precious 'capital' (سرمایه). Once this capital is spent or lost to time, no further spiritual profit or salvation can be gained. Therefore, utilizing life's span for spiritual progression is of utmost urgency.