M6:55 — یا مگر زین جنگ حقت وا خرد / در جهان صلح یک رنگت برد

Translation: Or perhaps from this war, God will liberate you, And lead you into a world of uniform peace.

Meaning: This verse suggests that one might find liberation from their internal struggles, either through personal endeavor or by divine grace, attaining a state of profound inner peace and existential harmony.

Within this ocean of Masnavi's words, Rumi speaks of war, but not merely the war of cosmic opposites; rather, of a more formidable battle: the conflict raging within ourselves. The preceding verses spoke of the "war of natures, the war of actions, and the war of sayings" among the parts of the world. Yet here, Rumi, with his characteristic subtlety, turns his address towards humanity. He states, without equivocation: "Behold the waves of my states, like armies, / Each in war and enmity with the other. / Observe such a great war within yourself, / Why then are you preoccupied with the war of others?" This is Rumi's own confession, yet it mirrors our own condition. A person not at peace with themselves can never be at peace with others. External conflict is merely a projection of that internal battle; the problem lies within, projected outward.

Now, our current verse points to the path of liberation from this abyss. Rumi lays out two avenues. First, the greater jihad, which is to turn to one's own internal struggle: "First, do not fight with others; attend to your own war, that is, busy yourself with solving this problem." This internal battle is not a destructive conflict, but an endeavor towards integration and coherence. The second path is one that passes through divine grace: "Or perhaps from this war, God will liberate you." This means that if a person is fortunate and well-destined, divine providence will take their hand and rescue them from this internal battlefield.

What is the destination of this liberation? "And lead you into a world of uniform peace." This "uniform peace" (صلح یکرنگ) is not merely the cessation of conflict; it is the zenith of human perfection. In my view, human evolution is nothing less than liberation from this inner war. When a person is at odds with themselves, when their inner forces array against each other, what strength remains to combat vices or cultivate virtues? This battle is an immense waste of spiritual energy. "Uniform peace" signifies inner coherence, harmony of the soul, unity of states, and the dissolution of contradictions and dualities. This is precisely the "self-knowledge" that Rumi considered the "root of the root of the root of religion"—reaching an existential integrity where no trace of opposition remains.

Key takeaways

• Internal human conflict is the root of external strife.
• Human evolution is contingent upon liberation from inner wars.
• This liberation is achieved either through personal effort or by divine grace.
• "Uniform peace" (صلح یکرنگ) signifies inner coherence, harmony of the soul, and unity of one's states.
• Internal conflicts represent an immense waste of one's spiritual energy.