M6:1052 — این ترا و آن مرا بردیم سود / هین لکم دین ولی دین ای جهود

Translation: This for you, and that for me, we bore profit. Lo! To you your religion, and to me my religion, O Jahūd (Jew)! Meaning: This verse explains how appearances can deceive, and true profit hinges on a deep understanding of inner realities. It then, through a Quranic quote, emphasizes the distinct paths of individuals based on their engagement with outward forms versus inner truths.

Mowlana incessantly warns us against succumbing to superficiality, always revealing how the truth of the world often presents itself in inverse fashion. Real sweetness may be hidden within bitter experiences, and true fortune might arrive cloaked in humble, 'slave-like' attire. The unfortunate eye, however, only perceives the exterior, thus missing the concealed treasure. Here, Rumi challenges us: to what do we sell ourselves? Do we know our true worth? Do we recognize fortune when it appears in its 'slave's raiment,' or do we blindly pass it by?

This particular verse marks the climax of this admonition. When Rumi says, "This for you, and that for me, we bore profit," it alludes to the perception that both groups—those enamored with appearance and those pursuing inner truth—believe they have gained something. But which profit is genuine? He then, echoing the Holy Quran, declares through the Prophet's words: "Lo! To you your religion, and to me my religion, O Jahūd!" This address to the "Jew" (ای جهود) is not a literal targeting of a specific Jewish individual or community. Rather, it is a symbolic invocation, aimed at anyone ensnared by the outward forms, rituals, or external trappings of religion or worldly life. It is directed at the 'babbling polytheist' (مشرک یاوه‌گوی ژاژخا) that Rumi mentions in preceding verses; one whose inner being is dark, regardless of fair skin. Such a person, in effect, becomes an idol-worshipper, adoring the form and appearance rather than the essential truth.

The ultimate recompense for these idol-worshippers of forms is evident even in this world: "Their due recompense was this: an atlas saddle, but a wooden horse." This metaphor vividly illustrates that seductive appearances lead to empty and worthless outcomes. It's like a wooden horse adorned with a silken saddle: beautiful to behold, but lifeless and valueless at its core. Rumi further illuminates this profound contradiction between the inner and outer through other examples: the elaborately embellished tombs of the heedless, whose interiors are filled with smoke and fire; the outwardly beautiful wealth of oppressors, which internally carries the blood of the wronged and brings ruin; or the hypocrite, who outwardly performs prayers and fasting, but whose heart is barren, black soil incapable of growth. All these bear witness to the profound truth that what truly matters is one's inner character and essence, not superficial form.

Key takeaways

• True value and fortune are often concealed within humble or unattractive appearances; one must not be deceived by the surface.
• The world often operates inversely: what seems bitter may contain profound sweetness.
• The Quranic phrase 'To you your religion, and to me my religion' here serves as a warning to anyone trapped in the externals of faith or worldly life, not a specific group.
• Idolatry of forms, even when adorned with luxurious coverings, leads to a hollow and worthless end, like a wooden horse with an atlas saddle.
• What truly matters is one's inner character and essence, not their outward form or appearance.