Praise and Dispraise of Wisdom in Mathnavi

Mowlana in his famous and unique work, Mathnavi, has mentioned different varieties and kinds of wisdom. He has sometimes praised wisdom and sometimes dispraised it. The present paper discusses and expresses different wisdoms in Mathnavi. It also describes the different functions of each type of wisdom along with the feature it enjoys. Then it investigates the reasons for the paise and dispraise of wisdom. Unlike many other experts, the writer of this article believes that the minor wisdom is not essentially dispraised in Mathnavi, despite all its negative consequences. Actually it is part of the major wisdom or at least it holds a share. The minor wisdom, though has a high spiritual trace, is sometimes affected by satanic and worldly desires due to its limitations and some of its characteristics. As a result it loses its connection with the major wisdom. Moreover, people differ in the degree of wisdom they posses. In other words, Mowlana rejects the idea of equality offering some reasons; even though some rhetoricans believe in such equation. God at times bestows wisdom to animals to prove his power and miraculous strength.