M6:3239 — بر یکی خر بار لعل و گوهرست / بر یکی خر بار سنگ و مرمرست

Translation: On one donkey is a load of ruby and jewel; On another donkey is a load of stone and marble. Meaning: This verse simply states that in the world, loads and values differ greatly, illustrating how one creature might carry precious gems while another bears common stones.

This verse, without a doubt, extends the crucial discussion I previously expounded concerning the tale of the man named Omar in the city of Kashan; a discussion centered on the difference between unity-vision (vaḥdat-bīn) and strabismus (aḥvali), which signifies seeing double. While at first glance this verse might merely point to superficial differences, it inherently conveys a deeper epistemological point: the necessity of discernment and distinction even when perceiving unity.

Just before this verse, Mawlana states: “They do not all share one ruling/judgment.” This is precisely where the core insight lies. It is true that in monotheistic wisdom, everything emanates from one principle and one origin, and these are merely manifestations of the same “formlessness” (bī-ṣūrati) that has become manifest in “form” (bā ṣūrat). However, this does not imply absolute equivalence. Indeed, in the city of Kashan, all shops were “one” in their refusal to sell bread to Omar. There, unity emerged through a singular action. Yet here, this verse teaches us that while everything is a manifestation of the Divine Truth, these manifestations are not uniform in quality or value.

On one donkey’s back is a load of ruby and jewel; meaning, it is precious and valuable. On another’s back is a load of stone and marble; meaning, while it might be useful, it lacks the spiritual and existential value of rubies and jewels. An eye that is trained, one that is a “king-recognizer” (shāh-shenās), must be able to recognize “the King in every garment,” but simultaneously, it must also discern the “garments” themselves. To ignore these qualitative differences is, in itself, a form of “strabismus.” To assume everything is identical and equal is an oversimplified and misleading reduction. This is the very error Mawlana warns against immediately after this verse: “Do not drive all your donkeys with one stick.” That is, do not apply a single, uniform rule to all these diverse manifestations.

This insight represents a fundamental divergence between the mystical perspective and a view that might descend into a superficial, rootless monism. Mysticism, with all its emphasis on the unity of being and monotheism, never implies that we should ignore the essential and qualitative differences among things and individuals. On the contrary, the mystic’s insight allows them, while seeing the “sea of meanings” behind the “foam on the water,” to also recognize the nature of each “foam.” The fact that some souls carry “loads of ruby and jewel” while others carry “loads of stone and marble” is a reality that the wise person must not overlook. This verse tells us that a deep understanding of existence requires seeing differences within the framework of unity, and discerning qualities amidst the multitude of forms; because that singular “water” can, in one particular “stream,” yield “buds,” and in another “stream,” only reflect the image of the “moon.”

Key takeaways

• Understanding existence requires discerning qualitative differences (ruby and jewel versus stone and marble) while simultaneously perceiving fundamental unity.
• Although everything is a manifestation of one singular Truth, not all manifestations are equal in value or quality; to “drive all with one stick” is a mistake.
• Mystical insight transcends simplistic reductions that equate all manifestations without distinction.
• The insight of the 'king-recognizer' is to know 'the King in every garment,' but also to recognize and distinguish between the garments themselves.
• Mawlana teaches that valuing and differentiating among the diverse manifestations of existence is an essential component of a comprehensive understanding of Tawhid (Divine Unity).