M6:2593 — موضع رخ شه نهی ویرانیست / موضع شه اسپ هم نادانیست

Translation: To place the king in the rook's position is ruin; To place the horse in the king's position is ignorance. Meaning: Using the analogy of chess pieces, this verse illustrates that proper placement of everything and everyone in their rightful context is crucial; misplacement inevitably leads to havoc and folly.

This verse employs the analogy of chess to illuminate a fundamental truth about the order of existence and the essence of justice. I have consistently argued that Mowlana is not merely concerned with the aesthetics of language; he deploys every metaphor to root out a profound philosophical or mystical concept. Here, the example of the rook, king, and knight in chess symbolizes the principle of "waḍʿ andar mawḍiʿash" – placing everything in its true and deserving position.

If one places a piece in a position it does not merit, the game is thrown into disarray. If you seat the king in the rook's place, you have not only diminished the king's power but also disrupted the very order upon which the game is founded. This, precisely, is ruin. If you place a knight where a king should be, it is sheer ignorance, for you have failed to grasp the rules of the game and the inherent value of its pieces. This is not merely a game; it is a symbol of the entire cosmos and its governance.

I have always emphasized that in Mowlana's view, as well as in that of many other sages, "justice" is not an absolutist concept of good and evil, but rather means "placing everything in its proper context." This definition possesses an unparalleled philosophical depth and has been accepted from Plato and Aristotle to Islamic jurists and scholars, including Imam Ali (PBUH) in Nahj al-Balaghah. No action, in itself, is absolutely good or bad; it is the geography of the action, the intention of the agent, and its consequences that imbue the action with moral color. A good deed, if misplaced, can become a source of evil, and conversely, an act that appears wicked, if situated correctly, might be an absolute good. This perspective teaches us to always exercise deliberation and weigh all aspects of a matter.

For this reason, Mowlana points out that even in sharīʿat (divine law), there is both "reward and punishment"; that is, each has its proper place. The king sits on the throne, and the horse stands at the gate. These analogies collectively demonstrate that existence is a system; a system in which every component has its specific position and role. Recognizing these positions and adhering to them is the very essence of justice and wisdom. This verse calls us to a deep contemplation of our own place, our actions, and even our beliefs: are we standing in our rightful positions, or are we, out of ignorance, bringing ruin to the world?

Key takeaways

• Justice means "placing everything in its true and rightful position," not an absolutism of good and evil.
• Disregarding the proper place and role of anything or anyone leads to ruin and ignorance.
• The moral value of an action depends on its "geography" (context), intention, and consequences, not its inherent absolute nature.
• The order of existence and divine law (sharīʿat) is built upon specific positions and the observance of proportions.
• Understanding this verse prompts us to reflect on our own place and actions within the world.