M6:2032 — چونک جفت احولانیم ای شمن / لازم آید مشرکانه دم زدن

Translation: Since we are companions to the double-sighted, O shaman, / It is necessary to speak in a polytheistic manner. Meaning: In this verse, Rumi explains that he sometimes adopts a language that suggests multiplicity because his audience perceives the world in dualistic or pluralistic terms. To make his discourse comprehensible to them, he must accommodate their vision.

With this verse, we grasp why Rumi finds himself compelled to speak in a language not entirely congruent with his unitive intuition. He refers to himself as a "companion to the double-sighted" (jofte ahwalān), meaning he associates with those who perceive multiplicity in the world, whereas in reality, from a monotheistic perspective, the cosmos is one. The well-known story of the cross-eyed student asking his master, "Which glass should I bring, there are two?" and the master replying, "There is only one," testifies to this very reality. Most people are like this; they see unity as multiplicity.

In this position, finding himself among these "double-sighted" individuals, Rumi is forced to "speak polytheistically" (mushrikāne dam zadan), meaning to use a language that is pluralistic. This does not signify polytheism on his part but is an admission of the necessity to employ a language accessible to the understanding of the common folk. The term "shaman" here symbolizes idol-worshippers and polytheistic priests who revere multiplicity; addressing such an individual, Rumi explains this predicament.

If Rumi were to speak solely from the ocean of unity, he would have no choice but silence, for the language of multiplicity is inadequate to express pure unity. This is the very secret of his pen name, "Khāmoush" (the Silent One). Even prophets faced this difficulty; for their message to reach the masses, they sometimes had to temporarily "cleanse their eyes of the kohl of divine unity" and speak in a dualistic language. This verse explicitly shows that the Masnavi, though it proclaims itself as "the shop of unity" and considers anything other than unity as an "idol," confesses that it is compelled to speak "polytheistically" so that its words may reach the "double-sighted" and effectively "drive the message under their skin."

Key takeaways

• Rumi is compelled to use a pluralistic language to accommodate the understanding of the "double-sighted" (ahwalān).
• Ordinary people perceive the world in multiplicity, whereas the unitive vision sees only one cosmos.
• Speaking in a "polytheistic" manner for Rumi is a communication strategy, not a statement of belief.
• If Rumi were to speak of pure unity, he would be forced into silence; this is the secret of his pen name "Khāmoush" (the Silent One).
• Even prophets temporarily adopted a dualistic language to convey their message to the general populace.