M6:3117 — سایه‌اش گرچه پناه خلق بود / در نوردید آفتابش زود زود

Translation: Though its shadow was a refuge for humanity, Its sun swiftly gathered it in. Meaning: This verse speaks to the impermanence of worldly forms and shelters when confronted by the direct light of ultimate reality.

In this verse, Rumi offers a profound image of existence's relationship with ultimate reality. As I have often stated, the Masnavi teaches us that the phenomenal world, the world of forms, is but a mirror and manifestation of the eternal Formless. Here, Rumi touches upon a subtle point: everything in this world, even that which provides us refuge and comfort, is no more than a shadow. This 'shadow' can be any material thing, any social system, any epistemic structure, or even any partial manifestation of the Divine Names, which acts as a shelter for the frail human. It is akin to the veil Moses drew over his face so that the light of his essence would not hurt or blind the eyes of men. These shadows, though necessary and beneficial, are not the complete truth; they are always intertwined with 'deficiency' and 'darkness,' half light and half shadow, and as Sa'di puts it, 'You are too great to appear in a small mirror.'

Yet, the second hemistich declares definitively: 'Its sun swiftly gathered it in.' This 'sun' is, without doubt, the unmediated Truth, the absolute Divine Light. This phrase indicates that although shadows provide refuge, they lack permanence and duration. When confronted by the sun of Reality, they are rapidly rolled up and effaced. This points both to the annihilation of all multiplicities in unity, and to the swiftness of truth's manifestation, which tolerates no veil. The mystic who attains direct vision of the Real no longer clings to shadows, for however much a shadow may offer refuge, it is effaced and annihilated before the sun of Truth.

Recall Sheikh Mahmoud Shabestari, who states: 'Non-being is the absolute mirror of Being / From which the reflection of Truth's radiance is manifest.' This 'non-being' or these shadows are merely a reflection of Being. And this reflection can never equal the original; whenever the original appears, its reflection vanishes. This message draws our hearts and souls into the realm of the impermanence of forms and teaches us not to cling to any temporary refuge, for His 'sun' will, sooner or later, roll up all these shadows. This is precisely what I have always emphasized: the Masnavi teaches us muḥw (effacement), not naḥw (grammar); the effacement of forms in the sea of meanings.

Key takeaways

• The phenomenal world, including its refuges and comforts, is merely a shadow and incomplete manifestation of absolute reality.
• These shadows, though sometimes necessary and beneficial for weaker humans, are not the complete or ultimate truth.
• The 'sun' of Divine Reality swiftly rolls up and effaces all shadows and veils.
• The mystic should not cling to temporary shelters, as they all perish when confronted by the light of Truth.
• All multiplicities and forms ultimately return to and are annihilated within the absolute unity.