Concept

The Tale of the Lover and the Night Watchman in the Masnavi

In Book 4 of Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavi, the tale of the lover who flees from a night watchman serves as a profound allegory for how apparent adversity can be a vehicle for divine grace. A man, tormented by eight years of unfulfilled longing for his beloved, is chased by a fierce night watchman. Fearing for his life, the lover desperately hides in an unknown orchard. Miraculously, he discovers his beloved in that very garden, searching for a lost ring with a lamp. Overjoyed, the lover immediately blesses the terrifying watchman, praying for his worldly and spiritual prosperity. Rumi uses this narrative to illustrate the principle that human beings often despise the very circumstances designed for their ultimate benefit. The intimidating watchman, though ostensibly a source of calamity and fear, is revealed to be a divine instrument purposefully orchestrated by God to drive the exhausted seeker directly into the presence of his ultimate desire.

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Updated 2026-05-09

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Persian Literature Prerequisite Course

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