M6:3047 — وان دگر سوراخ کردی پهلوش / از جماعت گم شدی بیرون شوش

Translation: And another would bore a hole through its side; From the multitude, its way out would be lost. Meaning: This verse illustrates that if mice possessed genuine unity and solidarity, they could so overwhelm and corner a cat that it would find no escape route.

This verse, at the heart of a profound parable, addresses one of the most fundamental concepts in the Masnavi: the power of jam'iyat, or inner unity. Rumi here sketches a scenario where mice, symbols of weakness and dispersion, if they possessed a specific quality in the face of a cat, a symbol of power and fear, what an uproar they would create. That quality is not mere numerical multitude, but jam'iyat; the unity of hearts and inner solidarity.

I strongly contend that this parable is not merely about mice and a cat; through the seemingly simple story, Rumi gazes upon the 'human condition.' He declares: "Jam'iyat in outward forms is feshār (mere pressure/nonsense); seek inner unity (jam'-i ma'nī) from the Creator." This means that outward gathering and sheer numbers are worthless. If thousands of mice assemble but lack jam'iyat in their souls, they will all remain fearful and trembling, unable to overcome the cat. This is feshār or zhāzh—empty talk and delusion. What is real and effective is jam'-i ma'nī, the inner unity and empathy.

"Biroon-shoush" in this verse refers to the cat's exit or escape route. Rumi says that if there were solidarity and alliance among the mice, they would attack the cat with the courage of 'devotees' (fada'iyan, known for their bravery and self-sacrifice). One would gouge out its eye, another would tear its ear with its fangs, and another would bore a hole in its side. They would terrify it to such an extent that the cat would find no way to flee; its biroon-shou would be lost amidst the multitude of mice. It wouldn't know where to escape or what to do.

It is here that Rumi unveils a deeper truth: "The King of Kings bestows jam'iyat." This true unity and empathy originates from God, and it is He who grants it. This is a form of 'unity of actions' (tawḥīd-i af'ālī) which demonstrates that even the power of unity has a divine source. Bodies are "like names, held to be transient" (qāʾim chu ism); that is, physical forms, like conventional and ephemeral names, are fragile and baseless, unless hearts unite. This distinction between the 'reality of form' and the 'reality of meaning' is repeatedly emphasized in the Masnavi, teaching the reader to always move from the outer to the inner and to seek truth in the depths of souls, not in numerical multiplicity.

Key takeaways

• True power resides in inner unity and solidarity (jam'iyat), not in numerical multitude or outward assembly.
• A spiritless and uncommitted multitude (like isolated mice) is utterly helpless against a dominant power (the cat).
• Genuine unity and cohesion foster courage and a spirit of self-sacrifice, enabling one to overcome fear and obstacles.
• Rumi distinguishes between 'unity of forms' (outward appearance) and 'unity of meanings' (inner essence), deeming the latter as the effective core.
• The bestowal of inner unity and collective strength ultimately comes from God, the 'King of Kings'.