Concept

The Merchant's Lament and the Metaphor of the Destructive Tongue in the Masnavi

In Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavi, the Tale of the Merchant and the Parrot reaches a critical juncture when the merchant arrives in Hindustan and delivers his captive bird's greeting to a flock of wild parrots. Upon hearing the message, one wild parrot trembles and seemingly drops dead. Horrified, the merchant bitterly regrets his impulsive communication, believing his words have killed an innocent creature. Rumi uses the merchant's lament to deliver a powerful metaphor on the destructive potential of human speech. He compares the tongue to flint and iron, warning that reckless words act as sparks thrown into a highly flammable cotton field. Rumi cautions that a single careless remark can lay a world to ruin and burn souls. Through this allegory, he advocates for spiritual restraint, emphasizing that the wise cultivate patience and mindful silence, whereas the immature succumb to the impulsive greed of thoughtless speech.

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Updated 2026-05-16

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