M6:2480 — که مرا خود حاجت تاریخ نیست / کین چنین جسمی و عالی گردنیست

Translation: I myself have no need for history, For I possess such a body and an exalted neck.

Meaning: Spoken by the camel in the story of the three travelers, this verse symbolizes raw, irrational force that dismisses all arguments and legacies, relying solely on its physical might to achieve its purpose.

In this verse, Rumi speaks through the voice of a camel in the story of the three travelers (a Muslim, a Jew, and a Christian). These three travelers, each relying on their religious and historical heritage, assert their righteousness and superiority. After each has exhausted their logical, rhetorical, and legendary arguments, the camel enters the scene. Perceiving that it cannot compete with their historical and religious arguments, the camel abruptly changes the rules of the game. Here, the discussion shifts fundamentally to power.

The camel, with its long neck and formidable body, implicitly declares: "I myself have no need for history, For I possess such a body and an exalted neck." This means: I have no need for your historical narratives, your logics, or your myths. I am mighty, and I will achieve my purpose through force. I will take the bundle of grass from your hands, leave you hungry, and satisfy myself. You cannot contend with me. Logic, in the face of power, often kneels and breaks.

This is a crucially important point for understanding the world and the dynamics of power. Throughout human history, "force" has accomplished much; it has frequently triumphed over all logic, philosophy, and reason. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted after World War II, was an attempt to curb this unbridled force and to introduce the concept of "the entitled human" who, regardless of religion, race, or nationality, possesses inherent rights. Yet, the bitter truth is that this "precious commodity" has also fallen into the hands of oppressors, and in its name, attacks have been launched, wealth plundered, and pockets filled. The reason is clear: because they possess power, they can disregard human rights, and few can stand against them.

Rumi himself beautifully states: "Let humanity never have claws and nails, For then they will think neither of religion nor righteousness." This means: beware lest humans become mighty; for when they are strong, they remember neither faith nor ethics. They crush everything in their grasp. This is a reality Rumi clearly observed and warns us against.

The solution adopted by past Sufis and great figures like Ghazali and Rumi himself was to withdraw from power. They calculated that they could not overpower governments, and confronting them would only lead to bloodshed and the rise of another tyrant. Therefore, they sought to extricate themselves from worldly affairs and, at most, engage in "counseling sultans," urging them to at least reduce injustice, appealing to their fear of God and the afterlife. They regarded government as a "necessary evil" inevitably intertwined with oppression but refrained from rebellion and revolution, instead focusing on cultivating virtuous individuals and nurturing small gardens of ethics in their immediate surroundings. This was the prevailing philosophy before thinkers like Marx introduced the concept of "changing the world."

From my perspective, this verse offers a profound lesson on the untamed nature of power. We must learn to tame and control power, and for this, we need theoretical frameworks. However, we must never lose sight of the fact that true reform begins with the individual. We should not passively await political change and the rise of benevolent rulers; rather, we must practice goodness and justice in our own limited spheres, from our personal lives to our families and workplaces. These tasks are difficult but vital, and the world is reformed in this manner. The camel, with its elevated neck, stands as an unforgettable symbol of the truth that sometimes all dialogues and arguments are silenced before the language of brute force and power.

Key takeaways

• This verse symbolizes raw, illogical power that disregards argument, history, and spiritual heritage.
• In the real world, force often overrides and tramples upon logic, ethics, and even human rights.
• Rumi warns that unchecked human power (claws and nails) can lead to the neglect of both faith and righteousness.
• The Sufi path emphasizes self-reform and withdrawal from political power, contrasting with approaches that seek to change the world by seizing control.
• True global reform begins with individual self-improvement and the practice of virtues in one's immediate surroundings, rather than solely awaiting large-scale political changes.