1Cademy - The Tale of the Sold Donkey and the Danger of Blind Imitation in the Masnavi

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مثنوی معنوی: دفتر دوم / Masnavi: Book Two
دفتر دوم - بخش ۱۵ - فروختن صوفیان بهیمهٔ مسافر را جهت سماع / Book Two - Section 15 - The Sufis Selling the Traveler's Beast for the Sama'
دفتر دوم - بخش ۵ - اندرز کردن صوفی خادم را در تیمار داشت بهیمه و لا حول خادم / Book Two - Section 5 - The Sufi Advising the Servant on the Care of the Animal, and the Servant's Saying 'La Hawla'
The Danger of Blind Imitation (Taqlid) in the Masnavi

Concept

The Tale of the Sold Donkey and the Danger of Blind Imitation in the Masnavi

In Book 2 of Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavi, the tale of the traveler's sold donkey highlights the spiritual dangers of blind imitation (taqlid) and associating with worldly, materialistic companions. A Sufi traveler arrives at a khanqah (Sufi lodge) and, after tending to his mount, joins the resident Sufis. Driven by severe hunger and greed, these false dervishes secretly sell his donkey to fund a night of feasting and sama' (spiritual dance). Seduced by their excessive flattery and attention, the weary traveler eagerly participates. When the musicians start chanting, 'The donkey is gone, the donkey is gone,' the traveler enthusiastically echoes the refrain in ecstatic imitation, entirely unaware that he is celebrating the theft of his own property. Rumi employs this narrative to warn seekers against blindly mirroring the outward religious fervor of others without true spiritual awareness. The tale emphasizes that adopting the superficial practices of corrupt companions—who are driven by physical appetites rather than divine love—ultimately leads to one's own ruin.

Updated 2026-06-13

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