In Book Four, Section 82 of the Masnavi, Rumi categorizes individuals into three distinct types based on their intellect and spiritual maturity:

1. The Perfect Wise Man (عاقل تمام): One who possesses his own inner light and acts as his own guide. He is a leader who moves forward with independent insight and spiritual vision.
2. The Half-Wise (نیم‌عاقل): One who lacks independent illumination but possesses enough wisdom to recognize and follow the Perfect Wise Man. He metaphorically clings to the guide like a blind man holding onto a seer, thereby finding salvation.
3. The Fool/Worthless One (شقی مغرور لاشی): One who lacks both independent intellect and the humility to follow a true guide. Proud and ignorant, he wanders aimlessly without a candle or a leader, ultimately facing ruin.

This conceptual framework serves as the theoretical foundation for the subsequent allegory of the three fishes.