M1:329 — شاهِ اَحْوَل کرد در راهِ خدا / آن دو دَمسازِ خدایی را جدا

Translation: The cross-eyed (ahwal) king, in the path of God, / Separated those two divine companions (damsāz-e khodā'ī). Meaning: A king, afflicted by a distorted vision that could not perceive the essential unity of the prophets, mistakenly believed he was serving God by creating division between two divinely inspired souls.

This verse, appearing early in the tale of the Jewish King in the first book of the Masnavi, serves as a profound vehicle for Rumi's insights into history, prophecy, and ultimate truth. We must first attend to the phrase "ʿahd-e ʿĪsā" (the covenant of Jesus). In mystical wisdom, a covenant is not merely a historical period but a divine pact made between God and each prophet, inaugurating a new epoch of spiritual and cultural life for humanity. Right and wrong, good and evil, and even the permissible and the forbidden are defined and redefined by these covenants. These are not to be confused with mere historical eras; they point to fresh manifestations of truth, which assume new forms with each prophet and in every age, as Rumi himself states elsewhere: "Truth has a new manifestation in every covenant."

However, the central point of this verse lies in the phrases "Jān-e Mūsā ū va Mūsā jān-e ū" (Moses' soul was he, and he was Moses' soul) and subsequently "ān do damsāz-e khodā'ī" (those two divine companions). Rumi holds an unwavering belief that prophets, despite differences in their shariʿah (religious law) and outward teachings, are united in spirit and soul. They are, in Rumi's words, "Lions of God," and "The souls of God's lions are united." The souls of divine saints are interconnected, much like the water of the ocean, where each drop, in essence, reflects the entire sea. In the realm of prophecy, they were colleagues, not rivals; they shared a single existential source and drew life from one divine light. Thus, to disrespect one is to disrespect all; to honor one is to honor all.

It is against this backdrop that the "shāh-e ahwal" (the cross-eyed king) emerges. Ahwal refers to someone with strabismus or double vision, seeing things as split. This cross-eyed king, who is not a historical figure but a symbol of delusion and spiritual blindness, fails to grasp this spiritual unity. In the name of God—or, rather, in what he mistakenly believes to be God's path—he sows discord. He cannot see that Moses and Jesus, in their essence, are one, and their differing laws do not negate the unity of their souls. This king with distorted vision, under the illusion of aiding Moses' religion, persecutes Christians and separates those two "divine companions." This superficial, divisive perspective stands in direct opposition to Rumi's unifying mystical insight.

Theologians and jurists, often by clinging to outward forms and secondary injunctions, frequently miss this inner unity. I have often underscored this point in discussions with Western thinkers: our religious thought, especially in mysticism, possesses a different depth and breadth. Even contemporary popes, despite their religious leadership, often view religion solely through a theological and legalistic lens, thus failing to grasp that profound pluralism and inner unity. They may, regrettably, engage in fostering division among religions, whereas our mystics, centuries ago, had already attained this "unity of souls." It is here that I assert our mystics were not merely ahead of their time, but continue to guide us toward a more comprehensive and truthful vision of faith.

Key takeaways

• The unity of the souls of prophets and divine saints, despite differences in their laws, is a fundamental truth in Rumi's thought.
• The "cross-eyed king" symbolizes one oblivious to the inner unity of truth, mistaking superficial forms for deeper realities.
• Separating divine figures and sowing discord in the name of religion stems from a dualistic and superficial perception.
• Epochs and covenants in history represent diverse manifestations of a singular truth, each revealing a new aspect with the advent of a prophet.