M6:179 — گر ز مغرب بر زند خورشید سر / عین خورشیدست نه چیز دگر

Translation: Should the sun rise from the West, it is still the Sun, not anything else. Meaning: Rumi asserts that even if truth or divine light manifests from an unexpected direction, contrary to customary expectations, its intrinsic essence remains unchanged; it is still the pure, unadulterated truth.

This verse emerges from the delightful parable of the 'man named Omar in Kashan' and Rumi's broader discourse on the 'living, abiding Imam' (Imam Hayy Qā'im). I have explained previously how Rumi, with astute insight, portrays the unity of the townspeople in their dealings with the man named 'Omar,' illustrating that in a unified perspective, there is no real distinction between shops; it is as if there is only one vendor. This brilliant verse states the overarching principle of that parable, teaching us that the criterion for discerning truth lies in its essence, not its point of manifestation or its outward form.

I strongly contend that this verse carries a fundamental message: truth, whether it rises from the East of familiar wisdom or from the West of an unexpected gnosis, does not fundamentally change its nature. The sun is the sun, whether it rises from its customary direction or from a place our habits deem impossible. Rumi's statement here is an invitation to look beyond appearances and forms. As I have elucidated in discussing 'formlessness' (bī-ṣūratī) and 'with-form' (bā-ṣūratī), the authentic truth is formless, and whatever form it assumes does not alter its essence. Light is colorless, yet it reveals all colors; the breath of the reed is itself soundless, yet it is the source of all melodies. This verse, concisely, expresses this very principle concerning the manifestation of truth.

It is for this reason that Rumi, in the same vein, states: 'So the living, abiding Imam is that Walī, whether from the lineage of Omar or from Ali.' For Rumi, the authenticity and sanctity of a spiritual guide or leader are not derived from their bloodline, their geography, or their apparent school of thought — be they from Baghdad, Herat, or Ray. What matters is the inner essence and the divine light that radiates from them. This is a profoundly anti-sectarian and anti-formalist message that remains revolutionary in Rumi's era and even today. He warns us against the 'squint-eyed' (aḥwalī) vision that sees 'one' as 'many' and sacrifices essence for form.

This insight also serves as a critique of those who seek truth only within their own mental frameworks and preconceived notions, denying it if it emerges from an unexpected direction. Rumi implies that this is 'ignorance' (nādānī); an ignorance stemming from habit and prejudice that prevents one from seeing the sun of truth in every manifestation and from every direction. For a person with a truth-recognizing eye, 'the friend is seen pervading the expanse of both worlds,' and such a one traverses this 'Kashan full of fear and hope' – this world of nature – without bewilderment, for they know their destination and their Host. This verse, in essence, is the distillation of Rumi's unifying vision; a vision that transcends boundaries and perceives the core of meanings beyond their formal molds.

Key takeaways

• The essence of truth is independent of its point or form of manifestation.
• Discerning truth requires insight (baṣīrat), not mere mental frameworks or habits.
• This verse is a radical call against sectarianism and formalism in recognizing spiritual guides.
• The sun, even if it rises from the West, remains the sun; so too does truth.
• Freedom from bewilderment and ennui lies in perceiving unity and truth amidst diverse appearances.