M1:687 — در معانی قسمت و اعداد نیست / در معانی تجزیه و افراد نیست

Translation: In the realm of meanings, there is no division or numbers; / In the realm of meanings, there is no analysis or individuals. Meaning: This verse asserts that the world of fundamental truths and meanings transcends all notions of counting, division, multiplicity, and individual distinctness, existing instead as a unified whole.

I have often stated that Rumi perceives the world in two fundamental ways; indeed, he posits two worlds in opposition. One is the "world of matter" ('ālam-e mādda), where we live and observe with our physical senses, and the other is the "world of meaning" ('ālam-e ma'ānī) or the "world of unity" ('ālam-e waḥdat). This verse precisely addresses the foundational distinction between these two realms.

The material world we inhabit possesses two essential characteristics: "numbers" (a'dād) and "opposites" (aḍdād). By "numbers," I mean that everything is countable and divisible. We are seven billion humans; there are thousands of stars, mountains, and stones; each phenomenon is a distinct individual, capable of being separated. This is where "division" (qismat) and "individuals" (afrād) acquire meaning. But beyond numbers, the material world also features "opposites": light against darkness, night against day, bitterness against sweetness. Even, in Rumi's terms, belief and disbelief are opposites at this level. These dichotomies are inherent to our material world.

However, Rumi speaks of another realm that transcends these divisions; a world he terms the "world of meaning" or the "world of unity." In that realm, there are no numbers, no divisions, no analyses, and no individuals. Everything is one, integrated, interconnected. As the very next verse states: "The union of the Beloved with lovers is sweet; / Grasp the meaning, for form is rebellious." Forms — these very material and individual shapes we perceive — are deceptive and hinder us from realizing unity. If you observe two mystics, they may appear as two individuals outwardly, but internally, they are one, for their souls have partaken in unity.

Rumi himself provides the example of waves and the sea to illustrate this unity. The wind, blowing upon the sea, creates countless waves, assigning them multiplicity. But if you set aside the effect of the wind, all those waves are, fundamentally, a single, unified body of water. There, no trace remains of "division and numbers" or "analysis and individuals." This understanding is challenging for our minds, which are accustomed to distinctions and differentiations. Yet, we must gradually become acquainted with Rumi's worldview to grasp his words from the depths of our being; a world whose bricks and pillars are built upon this unity. This world without numbers is the very reality of formlessness (bī-ṣūratī) that Rumi considers the key to gnosis. Colorless water, colorless light, and the soundless breath within the reed are all symbols of this formlessness and unity.

Key takeaways

• The world has two dimensions: the material realm (numbers and opposites) and the realm of meaning (unity and undifferentiation).
• In the realm of meaning, multiplicity and individuality (numbers, division, analysis, individuals) vanish, and unity prevails.
• Concepts like belief and disbelief, thanks and complaint, become irrelevant in the realm of meaning; it transcends opposites.
• Material forms and appearances are deceptive, hindering the perception of meaningful unity.
• The analogy of sea waves illustrates how apparent multiplicity conceals true unity.
• Attaining this understanding beyond numbers requires a shift in worldview and grasping the reality of 'formlessness' (bī-ṣūratī).