Story Summary
Discover the wisdom of Rumi in The Parrot and the Grocer, a Sufi parable about a bald bird who mistakes a dervish's appearance for his own misfortune.
In ancient times, a grocer kept a clever green parrot to guard his shop and entertain customers with its witty speech. One day, while the grocer was out, the parrot took flight and accidentally knocked over a bottle of expensive rose oil, soaking the floor. When the grocer returned and saw the mess, he flew into a rage and struck the bird on the head, causing its feathers to fall out. The once-vibrant bird became bald and, silenced by the trauma, refused to utter a single word for weeks. The grocer, filled with remorse, tried every trick to coax the bird back to speech, but it remained somber. One afternoon, a bald dervish walked past the shop. Upon seeing the man’s smooth scalp, the parrot suddenly broke its silence, shouting, 'Hey, you! Did you also spill a bottle of oil?' The shop erupted in laughter, for the bird assumed the holy man's appearance was caused by the same misfortune it had suffered.
The Moral
Do not judge the internal states or spiritual rank of others based solely on external appearances or your own limited experiences.
“Do not measure the actions of holy men by the scale of your own behavior.”
Fun Fact
This story is located in the very first book of Rumi's Masnavi and is often used to introduce the concept of 'Qiyas' (analogical reasoning) and its pitfalls in spiritual life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Parrot and the Grocer?
The story warns against the fallacy of 'analogy by appearance,' teaching that we should not assume others share our same causes or struggles just because they look similar on the outside.
Who wrote The Parrot and the Grocer?
This parable was written by the famous 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic, Jalal ad-Din Rumi. It is one of the most beloved stories found in his masterpiece, the Masnavi.
What does the parrot represent in Sufism?
The parrot represents the human ego or the intellect that operates only on a surface level. It shows how the mind often projects its own traumas and experiences onto the world around it.
Why is the dervish bald in the story?
In Sufi tradition, a dervish might have a shaved head as a sign of asceticism and devotion. The parrot fails to see this spiritual choice, seeing only a physical trait similar to its own injury.
What is the significance of the rose oil?
Rose oil is a precious and fragrant substance. Its loss represents a material attachment that causes the grocer to lose his temper, contrasting the worldly anger with the spiritual theme of the story.
How does Rumi use humor in this parable?
Rumi uses the parrot's innocent but ignorant question to highlight a profound philosophical error. The humor makes the lesson about spiritual discernment more accessible and memorable for the reader.
