M6:46 — جنگ طبعی جنگ فعلی جنگ قول / در میان جزوها حربیست هول

Translation: The war of natures, the war of actions, the war of words; Among the parts of the cosmos, a dreadful battle rages. Meaning: This verse states that conflict and opposition are not merely present in human speech and deeds, but are fundamentally embedded in the very nature of the elements and all constituents of the universe, upon which the world itself is founded.

This verse by Mowlana unveils a profound cosmic truth: conflict and struggle are not merely social or human phenomena, but a foundational principle in the very structure of the universe. Prior to this beyt, Mowlana suggests that our peace and war are ultimately in divine hands. However, here he adds that this divine intervention unfolds within a context that is inherently pluralistic and fraught with oppositions. We live in a world steeped in antagonism, and this antagonism is not a defect, but a precondition for its very existence.

Mowlana vividly illustrates this ‘war of natures’ (jang-i tabʿi) through the four elements: water quenches fire, and fire evaporates water. These powerful pillars, upon which the canopy of the world rests, are simultaneously ‘breakers of one another.’ This opposition is not a flaw, but the very backbone of creation’s dynamism. The world is built upon ‘opposites’ (aḍdād), and it is precisely for this reason that ‘this world stands by this war’ (in jahān z-īn jang qāʾim mī-būwad). Without such fundamental tension, inertia and death would undoubtedly prevail.

Yet, a far more crucial point is the extension of this cosmic law to the human interior. Mowlana emphatically states: ‘Thus the foundation of creation was upon opposites / Therefore, we are warlike from gain and loss.’ This means that, as we are a part of this inherently conflicting nature, our own selves become an arena for these struggles. Our inner ‘states’ (aḥwāl), from joy and sorrow, anger and calm, and a thousand other contradictory feelings and conditions, are in perpetual strife. How can a person who is not at peace with themselves ever achieve peace with others?

It is here that Mowlana transitions from this cosmic analysis to a deep ethical admonition. He asks: ‘Look at such a heavy war within yourself / Why then are you preoccupied with the war of others?’ This is a direct blueprint for self-cultivation. Our external conflicts with others are often a projection of the very internal discord that rages within. A person constantly at odds with others is, in reality, struggling with themselves. The path to breaking free from this vicious cycle is to turn inward and resolve these psychic contradictions. These internal battles must first be quelled within us for us to attain peace with the world, a peace that either arises from the seeker's own striving or, by divine grace, liberates them into a state of ‘oneness’ (yak-rangī) from this incessant war.

Key takeaways

• The cosmos is fundamentally built upon inherent opposition and conflict, which is a condition for its very existence.
• Conflict and struggle are pervasive across all levels of existence, from natural elements to human actions and words.
• Humans, as participants in this contradictory world, are inherently prone to conflict.
• External conflicts are often projections of an individual's internal strife and contradictory states.
• The path to liberation from external wars lies in addressing one's inner struggles and achieving self-peace.