The way of the worldly is to complain and lament about fate.
To sigh after being wounded is not the dignity of a dervish.
This point a wise mentor explained to me in solitude,
That suppressing a cry is lion-like; crying is fox-like and sheep-like!
This Urdu poem embodies a central Sufi and ethical theme prevalent in classical South Asian poetry: the virtue of patience and stoicism in the face of hardship. It distinguishes the worldly individual, prone to complaint, from the spiritual seeker (dervish) who maintains dignity and silence amidst suffering. The final lines powerfully advocate for self-control over lamentation, likening restraint to the strength of a lion and open sorrow to the weakness of a fox or sheep, a lesson often imparted by a wise spiritual guide.
faith & the divine · wit & rebuke · defiance