M6:2192 — پادشاهی را خدا کشتی کند / تا به حرص خویش بر صفها زند

Translation: God makes a king into a ship (of salvation), So that, through his own greed, he might strike at the ranks (of foes). Meaning: This verse suggests that God sometimes employs tyrannical rulers as unwitting instruments of protection, so that even their selfish motives lead to an unexpected good for the people.

This pivotal verse unveils a profound 'inversion' within divine providence, a gem of Rumi's wisdom. Rumi teaches us here that appearances are often deceiving; what we perceive as evil or oppression can, in its deeper reality and within the grand design of creation, be a means to good and salvation. This is not merely a sociological or psychological observation but a deep theological lesson on how God operates in the world.

Rumi's specific example is the tyrannical king. This ruler wages war against enemies not out of compassion for his subjects, but solely to consolidate his power and display his might. His greed for power is a purely selfish motive, yet the outcome of his battles and the repulsion of foes is security and peace for his people. In essence, God employs this ruler, despite his impure intentions, as an 'ark of salvation' for his nation. This ark of salvation appears in the guise of might and even overt tyranny.

This analysis immediately brings to mind the noble verse from Surah al-Hajj in the Quran: «لولا دفع الله الناس بعضهم ببعض لهدمت صوامع و بیع و مساجد یذکر فیها اسم الله» (And were it not that God checks some people by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, wherein the name of God is much remembered, would surely have been destroyed). This verse articulates a universal principle: the order and survival of human civilization, even in its spiritual dimensions, sometimes emerge from conflicts and repulsions among people. God uses the complex, and sometimes dark, motives of humanity for the common good.

Rumi, in this context, introduces the concept of 'man qua man'. Human nature is such that it is self-serving, power-seeking, and expansionist. These inherent instincts lead to conflicts and rivalries among the powerful. Two kings cannot coexist in one realm, and each repels the other. In this struggle, born of the desire for survival and superiority, benefits accrue to others. These kings, without benevolent intent, provide security for their subjects out of their own self-interest.

This method of divine governance is further extended in Rumi's other examples, such as the mill-donkey or the ox pulling a cart. These animals move not to produce flour or carry loads, but simply out of fear of the whip and pain. Yet, this very fear and desire for relief from torment lead to the turning of the mill and the movement of the load, bringing many benefits to humans. This illustration emphasizes that divine action is present even in the smallest and most unconscious acts of creatures, maintaining the overall order of the world. This perspective offers a subtle interpretation of the Unity of Acts (Tawhid-i Af'ali), showing how God brings about universal and beneficial outcomes from natural causes and particular wills, without negating the freedom or primary motives of the agent.

Key takeaways

• God sometimes orchestrates good and general welfare from apparent evil and selfish motives.
• Appearances are deceiving; what seems like a calamity can, in its essence, be divine grace.
• Conflicts among oppressors, without their conscious intent, can lead to the preservation of order and security in society.
• This divine providence exemplifies an inversion of God's action in the world, creating universal outcomes from particular causes.