M6:2084 — لیک اندر چشم کنعان موی رست / نوح و کشتی را بهشت و کوه جست

Translation: But in Ken'an's eye a hair grew; he sought paradise and the mountain, abandoning Noah and the Ark. Meaning: Here, Rumi refers to the story of Noah's son, Ken'an (Canaan), who due to his spiritual blindness, failed to recognize Noah and the Ark of salvation, seeking refuge in a mountain instead. The verse signifies how individuals can be incapable of perceiving inner truths and paths to salvation.

This verse is among those where Rumi hermeneutically interprets a Quranic narrative within the context of the human soul. At first glance, it refers to the story of Ken'an (Canaan), Noah's son, who, during the Great Flood, ignored his father's invitation to board the Ark. Instead, he sought refuge on a mountain, mistakenly believing it would protect him, oblivious that divine decree transcends all physical shelters. However, in the Masnavi, this narrative runs deeper than a mere historical account.

Prior to this verse, Rumi speaks of "the fierce waves of the oceans of the soul," which are "a hundred times greater than Noah's Flood." This implies that the true flood is not the physical deluge that engulfed Ken'an, but rather the restless spiritual tempests and existential turmoils that surge within the hearts of men of God. These are the formidable waves that rise in the souls of the Friends of God, breaking inner beings, even if outwardly they appear calm and serene. Here, Rumi speaks of his own state and that of others like him, questioning: what do you know of what transpires in the hearts of divine men?

The phrase "But in Ken'an's eye a hair grew" is a crucial point. "Hair growing in the eye" (known in ancient times as sabal, or pterygium-like growth) was a condition that impaired vision and blurred the sight. Ken'an, therefore, was not merely obstinate but suffered from an "inner ailment" or "spiritual blindness," rendering him incapable of perceiving the truth. His eye was closed to Noah and his ark of salvation, which symbolizes the spiritual guide and the path to deliverance. Instead of seeking refuge in the "Ark of the Soul," the means of salvation from inner and outer floods, he resorted to a physical "mountain"; a mountain that could not withstand the wave of divine will and ultimately engulfed him.

Rumi, in essence, performs a spiritual ta'wil (interpretation) of Noah's Flood, suggesting that these floods are constantly raging around us, and at every moment, humanity is exposed to peril. Everyone is in need of an "ark of salvation" and a "Noah." Ken'an symbolizes one who, due to inner veils (the hair in his eye), fails to see these floods and identify the true guide, clinging instead to unreliable appearances and illusions. This allusion from Rumi serves as a warning to spiritual seekers not to suffer from inner blindness and to avoid mistaking true saviors for mere fantasies and baseless appearances.

Key takeaways

• The true flood is a spiritual tempest, an inner turmoil, that also rages within men of God.
• Ken'an's "hair in the eye" symbolizes spiritual blindness and the inability to perceive divine truths.
• Noah and his Ark represent the divine guide and the path to salvation from life's overwhelming waves.
• Reliance on superficialities and seeking refuge in a mountain (trusting material forces) is futile against divine will.
• This verse serves as a warning to correctly identify the true guide and path of salvation from illusions and inner veils.