M6:34 — نحلها بر کوه و کندو و شجر / می‌نهند از شهد انبار شکر

Translation: The bees on mountain, hive, and tree / Deposit stores of honey like sugar. Meaning: This verse points to the divine wisdom in creation, illustrating how alongside harmful elements, a creative force for goodness and sweetness has also been placed.

This verse, within the context of Mowlana's discourse, stands as a lucid example of divine providence in creation. I have repeatedly emphasized that Mowlana's worldview perceives the world as teeming with aḍdād (opposites) and conflict. This realm, indeed, is a battlefield of contraries, but not a chaotic or futile one. Rather, behind this struggle lies a wise tadbir (intelligent design or providence) that has created an antidote for every poison and a cleanser for every impurity. This specific verse aligns precisely with this principle: while serpents may spew venom and bitterness may trouble us, the bees on mountain, in hive, and on tree, store up honey like sugar from their nectar. This is a profound philosophical correspondence: for every negative force, there is an operative positive force that maintains equilibrium. It is not merely a description of nature, but an articulation of a universal principle in creation. Unlike some philosophers who might draw deterministic or destructive conclusions from conflict, Mowlana views this opposition as a manifestation of divine power and wisdom. In this perspective, the natural world, a domain of contraries and multiplicities, is managed in the most excellent manner. Thus, the existence of poison should not lead us to ingratitude, for simultaneously, the sweetness of honey has also been created. This is a dynamic and generative balance, which places imperfections alongside perfections not out of inability, but out of wisdom, so that each plays its role in the cycle of existence. This is the enduring lesson the Masnavi imparts: to behold the world through the eye of divine wisdom, not through a partial or complaining gaze.

Key takeaways

• Divine providence in creation balances opposites, placing positive forces alongside negative ones.
• The presence of 'poison' (harmful elements) should not lead to denying creation's wisdom, as 'honey' (beneficial elements) is simultaneously brought forth.
• Bees symbolize the creation of good and sweetness, maintaining existential balance alongside ill and bitterness.
• Mowlana perceives the world as full of contrasts, viewing them not as disorder but as signs of profound divine wisdom.
• This verse invites a sagacious and holistic view of the world, where, despite its inherent conflicts and oppositions, goodness and constructive forces remain actively present.