M6:2160 — پس حکم کرد آتشی را و نکر / تا شود حل مشکل آن دو نفر

Translation: Then He commanded a fire and a nakar (servant/judge), So that the problem of those two might be solved. Meaning: God made fire the arbiter in the prolonged conflict between Abraham and Nimrod, commanding it to reveal the truth and resolve their dispute.

This beyt speaks to the climax of the conflict between Abraham and Nimrod—a conflict that Rumi interprets not merely as a historical event, but as a manifestation of fundamental oppositions in existence, ultimately leading to divine knowledge. History, in Rumi's view, is a stage for the clash of these antinomies, beginning with Abel and Cain and extending through the eras of subsequent prophets.

The struggle between Abraham and Nimrod became protracted, and "when the length of the war became unpleasant," God called upon fire to arbitrate the dispute. Here, Rumi employs the remarkable phrase "He commanded a fire and a nakar." The word nakar is not found in Persian dictionaries, which has led to disagreements among commentators. However, I, like Nicholson, believe that nakar here is a corruption of nowkar (servant). Thus, God appointed the fire both as His servant and summoned it to act as judge, so that the problem between the two parties might be resolved. Fire, in this narrative, became an instrument in the hands of divine, ultimate power; a servant commanded to serve as a judge.

Rumi, in this beyt and the ones preceding it, views history as a series of such divine "commands" and "arbitrations." Fire for Abraham, the sea for Moses and Pharaoh, a deafening cry for the people of Thamud, a swift wind for the people of Ad, and the earth for Qarun—all are examples of God's direct and decisive intervention to resolve problems and manifest truth from falsehood. These are not mere ancient tales; Rumi teaches us that this Moses and Pharaoh, these antithetical forces of good and evil, reside within each of us, and a perpetual struggle rages within our very being. Every "problem" and every "difficulty" that arises in history and within us ultimately leads to wisdom and paves the way for divine knowledge. This perspective offers a deeper interpretation of the maxim "things are known by their opposites" (tuʿrafu al-ashyāʾ bi-aḍdādihā), meaning the identification of truth through confrontation with its opposite.

This fire was not just a tool for judgment, but itself a definitive witness to Abraham's truth and Nimrod's falsehood. Abraham remained unburnt amidst the flames, a miracle that proclaimed his righteousness. Thus, in Rumi's view, all these historical events, despite their bitterness and strife, are ultimately a stage for the manifestation of divine decree and the advancement of knowledge. This is a lesson for us to trust in God's ultimate judgment in our own existential and social struggles, knowing that every contradiction can be a path to resolution and the unfolding of spiritual insight.

Key takeaways

• The term nakar is likely a variant of nowkar (servant), indicating fire as both a servant and a judge.
• This beyt refers to the divine arbitration in the conflict between Abraham and Nimrod, resolved through fire.
• History is a battleground of antithetical forces, from Abel and Cain to Nimrod and Abraham, leading to divine knowledge.
• God uses natural forces (fire, water, wind, earth) as arbiters to manifest truth.
• Historical conflicts are externalized examples of internal human struggles that must be sought within oneself.
• Every difficulty and conflict can lead to the manifestation of divine wisdom and the opening of spiritual insight.