M6:3357 — پیش کافر نیست بت را ثانیی / نیست بت را فر و نه روحانیی

Translation: Before the infidel, the idol has no second; the idol has neither farr (majesty) nor rūḥāniyat (spirituality). Meaning: For the idolater, their idol stands supreme and unparalleled, even though it possesses no inherent majesty or spiritual presence. This paradox points to a deeper, hidden force at play.

This couplet from Rumi reveals his profound insight into idolatry and the role of divine cunning. We often assume idolatry is merely a straightforward intellectual error, but Rumi posits that it originates from makr-i Khudā (divine cunning) and chashm-bandī (divine sleight of hand). Our perception of reality, at times, is so influenced by the play of destiny that a lifeless stone appears singular and unparalleled in the eyes of the devotee: Before the infidel, the idol has no second. This is the ceaseless nāder-āvarī (novel creation) of God, which often remains hidden from our outer gaze.

Rumi explicitly states that this phenomenon stems from ibtila (divine trial or entanglement); through this illusion, God draws some towards what outwardly appears to be nothing. The striking point is that the idol inherently possesses neither farr (majesty) nor rūḥāniyat (spirituality). It has no divine aura or charismatic spiritual presence. There are no intrinsic qualities, either apparent or hidden, to inspire reverence. The worshipper carves it, shapes it, yet considers it their unrivaled deity, willing to sacrifice their life for it. This evident contradiction leads us to ask: What is that hidden attractor, deeply concealed, that radiates into this world from another? What mysterious force, what enigmatic attraction from another realm, shines through this inanimate object to captivate hearts so completely?

Rumi's aim is not to justify idolatry but to comprehend its deep and mysterious roots. He suggests that idolatry was not without cause or wisdom. Prophets certainly combated it and eradicated it, yet the phenomenon itself had deep and widespread roots, originating from another world and from a hidden divine illusion. Here, Rumi transcends superficial judgment, striving to uncover the hidden secret at the heart of every phenomenon, even one deemed erroneous by religious law.

Key takeaways

• Idolatry is not merely an intellectual error but a result of divine makr (cunning) or illusion.
• What appears unparalleled to the idolater inherently lacks any farr (majesty) or rūḥāniyat (spirituality).
• The idol's allure stems from a hidden, otherworldly force that Rumi seeks to uncover.
• Rumi searches for the underlying wisdom and secret within phenomena, even those seemingly condemned.