M6:62 — زانک ما فرعیم و چار اضداد اصل / خوی خود در فرع کرد ایجاد اصل

Translation: For we are but branches, while the four contraries are the root; The Root created its own nature in the branch.

Meaning: Mowlana explains that our inherent differences and conflicts arise because we are secondary manifestations of the world's fundamental, opposing elements, and the divine origin instilled this very nature of opposition within us.

Why are we perpetually at odds with one another? And how can unity possibly emerge from such a multitude of contradictions? Mowlana, in this profound couplet, delves into these fundamental questions, seeking the root of all contention in the very architecture of existence. He asserts that we are derivative beings, mere branches springing from a larger cosmic root. This 'root,' he identifies as the 'four contraries' (چهار اضداد) – the elemental forces that underpin the material world. These primordial elements, or temperaments, have, according to him, instilled their own contradictory nature (خوی خود) into their offshoots, which are us, human beings. Thus, conflict and opposition are inherent to our existence, precisely because we are derivatives of these fundamental contraries.

Yet, this is not the entire narrative. Mowlana immediately juxtaposes this 'derivative' existence with the 'essence of the soul' (گوهر جان). He declares: "But since the essence of the soul is beyond divisions, its nature is not this; its nature is divine grandeur." This soul, the very kernel of our being, is not of the same substance as nature and its inherent conflicts. Its true disposition is divine, unified, and 'colorless' (بی‌رنگ) – beyond all differentiation. All strife and opposition pertain solely to the corporeal and worldly dimension of our existence. In the realm of the soul, there is no conflict; it is entirely a domain of friendship and oneness.

Mowlana beautifully illustrates this through the concepts of 'spiritualization' (تروحن) and 'corporealization' (تجسدن). Spiritualization occurs when the soul becomes so robust and expansive that the physical body thins and becomes translucent, as if the body itself barely exists, and all is but pure essence. Conversely, corporealization is when the body grows thick and coarse, constricting the soul to the point of near extinction. The more we gravitate towards the soul, the closer we draw to 'colorlessness' and unity, distancing ourselves from contradictions; we become 'more soul-like.' This is the path trodden by saints and prophets. Their souls are expansive, and their bodies subtle; hence, they are free from conflict, embodying the Quranic dictum: “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.”

Heaven, too, is the realm of the soul, where its inhabitants are "brothers, facing each other on couches" (اخواناً علی سرُرٍ متقابلین), devoid of strife. This stands in stark contrast to hell, which is the realm of the body and conflict, as the Quran states: “Indeed, that is the truth—the disputation of the people of the Fire.”

Therefore, this couplet is not a lament about the current state but a profound elucidation of the architecture of existence and the path from multiplicity to unity. Mowlana teaches us that the roots of division lie in the superficial layers of our derivative existence. Yet, in the depths of the soul's essence, unity and connection prevail. The way to transcend conflict is to move from the domain of the branch to the root of the soul, shedding the 'nature of the four contraries' in the physical realm to attain the 'nature of divine grandeur' in the spiritual realm.

Key takeaways

• Human conflicts and differences arise from our derivative nature, shaped by the fundamental contraries of the cosmos.
• The divine origin instilled its own contradictory nature into our derivative being, leading to multiplicity and strife.
• The true essence of the soul is beyond these contradictions, characterized by the unity and 'colorlessness' of the divine nature.
• Through the spiritualization (tarawwun) of the soul over the body, one can transcend physical conflicts and achieve inner unity.
• Strife and contention are characteristics of the corporeal world (hell), while unity and brotherhood are the essence of the spiritual world (heaven).