M6:2193 — قصد شه آن نه که خلق آمن شوند / قصدش آنک ملک گردد پای‌بند

Translation: The king's intent is not that the people become secure; His intent is that the kingdom become stable and firm.

Meaning: This verse asserts that often, the actions of rulers are driven by a desire to secure their own power and dominion, rather than the welfare of their subjects. Nevertheless, such self-serving actions can, as a side effect, bring security and stability to the populace.

Here, Rumi articulates a profoundly sociological and philosophical point, touching upon the inversions and complexities inherent in the world and human behavior. At times, salvation and goodness manifest in forms that, on the surface, appear to be evil or destructive. This inversion demands our vigilance, lest we be deceived by mere appearances.

He alludes to the case of an oppressive and tyrannical king. This monarch, not out of benevolence or concern for his people's welfare, but solely to solidify his own power and secure his throne, engages in conflict with another oppressor and repels him. The outcome of this power-driven struggle, though stemming from the king's malicious intent, nonetheless brings security and peace to the populace as a secondary effect. In this sense, the king acts as a 'ship of salvation' for his subjects, as if divine grace has appeared in the guise of wrath.

This interpretation aligns precisely with Rumi's understanding of the Quranic verse, "And had Allah not checked one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, wherein the Name of Allah is much mentioned, would surely have been pulled down" (Surah Hajj). If God did not pit oppressors against each other, places of worship would be demolished, and no security would remain. This pitting of tyrants against one another is not a direct divine intervention alongside other natural causes, but rather stems from the self-interested and power-seeking nature of humanity. God has created humans with inherent self-regard and expansionist desires, and the conflicts arising from these human dispositions yield unforeseen consequences that ultimately lead to a greater good.

The same principle is reiterated in subsequent examples: the blindfolded mill-donkey does not run out of a desire to produce flour or oil, but to escape beatings and torture. The ox pulling a cart rushes not for the sake of transporting goods, but from fear of pain and abuse. In both instances, the agents' intentions (be it king or animals) are self-serving and aimed at warding off harm from themselves. Yet, as a consequence of these intentions, benefits and advantages accrue that transcend the agents' initial aims. This is divine wisdom, which brings forth goodness and benefit even from base motives, thereby upholding the order of the world.

Key takeaways

• Goodness and salvation sometimes appear disguised as evil or destruction; we must look beyond appearances.
• Human actions, even when driven by selfish motives, can lead to collective and beneficial outcomes.
• The preservation of order and society sometimes arises from human conflict and repulsion of harm, not necessarily direct divine intervention.
• The intentions of agents (the king, the mill-donkey) may be base and personal, but their actions' results (security, production) are far-reaching and positive.
• The world is full of inversions; what appears to be divine wrath may inwardly be divine grace.