M6:1531 — بعد ازین حرفیست پیچاپیچ و دور / با سلیمان باش و دیوان را مشور

Translation: After this, there is a word, intricate and distant; / Be with Solomon, and consult not the devils. Meaning: Rumi advises that certain theological and historical matters are too complex and abstruse to pursue. It is better to align oneself with a divine guide (like Solomon) and avoid engaging with misleading voices or futile disputes (the "devils").

This verse, appearing at the height of Rumi's discussion on the complex "Satanic Verses" (Gharaniq) incident, serves as a profound warning to seekers of truth. Rumi acknowledges that if a seemingly idol-praising utterance (like al-gharānīq al-ʿulā) ever appeared in the Prophet's discourse – and Rumi presents this as a narrative, not necessarily as a confirmed historical fact – it must be understood as a Satanic fitna (temptation) that was not part of the essence of revelation and was subsequently removed by the Prophet's command. Following this historical narrative, Rumi offers a clear resolution:

Baʿd azīn ḥarfīst pīchāpīch o dūr: Rumi concedes that delving into such matters – for instance, how Satan might interfere with revelation, the infallibility of prophets, or the divine wisdom behind such occurrences – is inherently a "tangled" (pīchāpīch) and "distant" (dūr) discussion. These are intricate and abstruse issues that distract individuals from their primary goal, and a seeker's time and energy should not be wasted on them. This method liberates one from entanglement in theological and historical minutiae that can obscure the core truth. This complexity is not limited to the gharaniq incident; it applies whenever the discourse drifts into intricate theological or metaphysical problems that are difficult to grasp definitively. In essence, Rumi teaches his audience to always move towards simplicity and clarity, and to avoid the quagmire of endless disputation.

Bā Suleymān bāsh o dīvān rā mashvar: This hemistich functions as a proverb with deep meaning. "Solomon" here symbolizes the Prophet, the perfect spiritual guide, or the divine truth itself, which is free from any distortion and whose word is authoritative. Rumi instructs: keep your gaze fixed on him, on his hand, on what he does and says, and let that suffice. Conversely, "divan" can refer to devils, tempters, or even fruitless and misleading theological debates that divert one from the path of truth. Rumi explicitly advises the audience not to be ensnared by theological obsessions and endless controversies. This is a direct command to abstain from excessive curiosity in matters that are not only unbeneficial but potentially harmful. Even if God permitted Satan to cause such a fitna, this permission itself contained a "secret" (sirr) and an "expediency" (maslaḥat) beyond our comprehension, which Rumi deems best not to delve into.

I myself believe that many exegetes and historians – especially from the seventh century Hijri onwards, as my late friend Dr. Sayyed Ja'far Shahidi also explored in his book Crimes of History – regard the gharaniq incident as fundamentally invalid and lacking authentic historical documentation. This, in itself, confirms Rumi's point: some of these "intricate and distant words" are best ignored and should not be allowed to divert our focus from the essence of truth. The Masnavi, as Rumi himself stated, is the "shop of unity," and anything presented within it that is not of the "One" is like an "idol" that must be transcended. This verse, in essence, is an invitation to epistemic and practical "unity," and an avoidance of fruitless "multiplicities."

Key takeaways

• In intricate theological and historical matters, adhere to clear, principal guidance rather than getting lost in details.
• Rumi advises against endless, obsessive debates that distract one from the essence of truth.
• Solomon symbolizes the Prophet and perfect guide, whose authority should be followed; 'devils' represent tempters and misleading discourses.
• Even when fitna (temptation/strife) occurs on the path of truth, Rumi counsels against over-analyzing its hidden wisdom, urging a return to fundamental principles.
• The core message of this verse is to focus on epistemic and practical 'unity,' avoiding fruitless 'multiplicities'.