M6:2198 — هم‌چنان هر کاسبی اندر دکان / بهر خود کوشد نه اصلاح جهان

Translation: Just as every merchant in their shop Strives for themselves, not for the world's reform. Meaning: This verse observes that individuals pursue their own self-interest in their daily endeavors, yet these aggregated personal strivings inadvertently contribute to the sustenance and order of the broader world.

In this brilliant verse, Rumi articulates a profound sociological and economic insight, one that would be rediscovered centuries later by Western thinkers like Adam Smith and F.A. Hayek. He begins by illustrating this principle with the analogy of the khorās (mill-donkey) or an ox pulling a cart: these animals exert themselves out of fear of pain and the whip, not with the intention of producing oil or transporting goods. Yet, their strenuous efforts accomplish precisely these outcomes. The animal's internal motive is 'relief' from pain, but the external consequence is the 'realization of utilities' (مصالح حاصل آید).

Rumi then extends this very principle to human society: 'Just as every merchant in their shop / Strives for themselves, not for the world's reform.' Every merchant who opens their shop in the morning has no motive other than personal gain. They strive for the prosperity of their business, even competing with neighbors to attract more customers. Yet, without their knowledge or specific intention, these individual and diverse efforts collectively uphold and sustain the broader market system, and ultimately, the order of the world. This doesn't apply solely to merchants; a teacher entering a classroom, a doctor seeing patients, even a beggar sitting on a street corner—all have 'opened their shops' and are pursuing their self-interest. It is the sum total of these activities that keeps the cycle of societal life turning.

Rumi's perspective resonates deeply with the concept of 'Spontaneous Order,' introduced by the eminent 20th-century economist F.A. Hayek. Hayek argued that many complex orders in the world, such as language or markets, emerge not from central planning and deliberate design, but unconsciously from innumerable interactions and the myriad small intentions of individuals. Language, which today serves as a wondrous instrument for expressing the most intricate thoughts, initially arose from simple, rudimentary conventions for limited understanding; no one intended to create Hafez's Divan or Rumi's Masnavi from its nascent forms. The market similarly emerges from individual competitions, cooperations, and conflicts, evolving into a self-regulating system that encompasses even the merchants themselves.

Adam Smith's term 'Invisible Hand,' coined by the Scottish philosopher and economist, describes precisely this phenomenon: individuals, in pursuing their own interests, are led as if by an invisible hand to promote a collective good that they had no intention of advancing. This is the essence of 'Unintended Consequences,' a concept Rumi grasped with remarkable clarity. These consequences are not only unforeseen and undesired by individuals but, at times, might even be disapproved of if known. Sociology, in a sense, is the study of these very unintended consequences of collective human behavior.

Rumi, from a vantage point beyond the superficial events, observed the inner workings of the world. He understood that the movement of parts, even driven by small and self-serving intentions, inevitably leads to the stability and coherence of a greater whole. This demonstrates how Rumi, with a philosophical and sociological eye, attained a profound understanding of the nature of existence and collective life, without ever needing to coin modern academic terms for his insights.

Key takeaways

• Individual self-interest acts as an unseen driving force that inadvertently contributes to the maintenance of overall societal order.
• Complex social orders, such as markets and language, often emerge spontaneously from individual interactions, rather than through central planning.
• In this verse, Rumi articulates the concept of 'unintended consequences' of collective behavior beautifully, predating Western thinkers.
• The internal motivations of individuals (e.g., escaping pain or seeking profit) can lead to far grander outcomes that transcend their initial intentions.