M6:2454 — خود عجب‌های قلاع آسمان / نسبتش نبود به آیات جهان

Translation: The very wonders of the castles of heaven / bore no relation to the signs of the world. Meaning: The marvels that unfold in the celestial spheres are so utterly profound and beyond earthly comprehension that no phenomenon or sign witnessed in the mundane world can possibly compare to them.

This couplet is uttered by the Christian character in the "Story of the Three Strangers" (the Jew, the Christian, and the Muslim). He recounts his dream, where he ascended with Jesus to the Fourth Heaven, the abode of the sun, which, according to traditions, is Christ's dwelling after his ascension. The Christian speaks with wonder of what he witnessed in these celestial fortresses, declaring it to be utterly distinct and superior to anything found on Earth.

These words from the Christian serve as a retort to the Jew, who had earlier described his dream on Mount Sinai. Whatever the Jew saw, it was confined to the Earth, upon a mountain that is part of this very soil. The Christian, however, soared, ascended, and entered a realm entirely beyond the terrestrial. He considers this experience so unattainable and indescribable that comparing it to the "signs of the world" — the phenomena and manifestations of the earthly realm — is meaningless. He implies, "You cannot fathom what transpires in the castles of heaven and amidst the spheres and firmaments; it is utterly inconceivable on Earth."

I have previously noted that, from an epistemological perspective of gnosis, experiences in dreams or mystical unveilings that reflect the viewer's pre-existing mental forms – such as the Jew seeing Moses or the Christian seeing Christ – though valuable, differ from formless experiences unburdened by thoughts, schools, or creeds. Nevertheless, Rumi, in this particular couplet, emphasizes the content of this vision – namely, the grandeur of heavenly wonders and their superiority over earthly phenomena – presenting it as a response to the Jew's terrestrial experience.

At this juncture, Rumi, in his characteristic narrative style, interrupts the story to delve into two important lessons: one concerning the role of force and power in history, and the other regarding deceptive, pseudo-Sufis. This move by Rumi demonstrates that while he is well aware of the magnificence of the unseen world and transcendent knowledge, and recounts such observations, he never loses sight of human dilemmas and socio-ethical challenges. He forges a profound connection between celestial observations and earthly lessons, teaching us that both realms are essential for human perfection.

Key takeaways

• The celestial and transcendent realms harbor truths that lie beyond the scope of earthly comprehension and comparison.
• The experience of ascending to higher realms, even in a dream, can signify the soul's yearning to transcend material limitations.
• While Rumi acknowledges the grandeur of celestial experiences, he never neglects to address fundamental ethical and social issues, even if it means interrupting his narrative.
• This couplet serves as a counterpoint to perspectives that rely solely on terrestrial observations and seek the ultimate truth exclusively within this world.