M6:962 — شید آوردی که تا جغدان ما / مر ترا سازند شاه و پیشوا

Translation: You brought deceit, so that our owls / May make you their king and leader. Meaning: This verse captures the accusation leveled by the owls against the falcon, whom they believe has brought trickery and deception to establish itself as their ruler and guide, thus subjecting them to its authority.

This verse, a pinnacle of Rumi's allegorical genius, speaks to the perpetual conflict between truth and illusion, and the ingrained resistance to enlightenment. The owls, in this narrative, symbolize those who dwell in the ruins of the material world or in their own self-spun illusions, becoming so accustomed to them that they perceive their desolate abode as a 'paradise.' Their lives are a pursuit of distraction and amusement, and they are content in this fleeting existence. Any discourse that disturbs this false tranquility is seen as an intrusion; they wish to remain oblivious to any other realm, especially one that might disrupt their present ease and disquiet their minds.

Into this scene comes the falcon, embodying prophets, mystics, and all who arrive from the 'Sultan's realm,' bearing tidings from the 'palace and arm of the sovereign'—that is, speaking of a higher truth and the spiritual world. The falcon seeks to awaken the owls to the ruinous nature of their dwelling and invites them to a transcendent reality. Yet, the owls interpret this illuminating message as 'meddling,' a source of 'sedition and turmoil.' They cannot accept that what they call paradise is, in fact, nothing more than a ruin. It is here that resistance begins, culminating in outright accusation.

"You brought shīd (deceit) so that our owls / May make you their king and leader." This is the core accusation in the present verse. The owls distort the pure intentions of the falcon, asserting that the falcon's words about another world, its signs from the Sultan's palace, and its calls to awakening are merely a ploy for power and dominion. 'You wish to deceive us,' they claim, 'and impose your rule upon us.' This objection is an ancient and recurring one throughout history against prophets and reformers. It echoes, for instance, the alleged words of Yazid concerning the Bani Hashem, claiming that 'they played with kingship, and no news came from heaven, nor was any revelation sent.' Rumi, through the allegory of the owls, precisely reflects this accusation, demonstrating how deniers and those fixated on their ruins interpret any call to transcendence as an attempt to establish temporal power, dismissing truth as mere 'shīd' and 'tarahhāt' (nonsense). This accusation, in essence, unveils the limited and self-serving perspective of the accusers themselves.

Key takeaways

• The verse recounts a historical accusation against prophets: those claiming spiritual leadership are merely seeking worldly power.
• Owls symbolize those accustomed to worldly illusions, perceiving any awakening as an unwelcome disturbance.
• Those driven by self-interest often judge others' pure intentions by their own standards, labeling truth as deceit.
• Rumi illustrates that resistance to truth often stems from the fear of losing false comfort and existing status.
• The accusation 'You brought deceit' signifies an inability to grasp the transcendent nature of spiritual calling.