M6:2473 — گفت قج با گاو و اشتر ای رفاق / چون چنین افتاد ما را اتفاق

Translation: Said the ram to the cow and camel, "O companions, / Since such an encounter has befallen us," Meaning: This verse initiates a story where a ram, a cow, and a camel encounter each other and decide to boast about their age and seniority.

This beyt serves as the opening scene for an allegorical tale in the Mathnawi, which, in its deeper layers, conveys one of Rumi's most crucial teachings regarding the relationship between power, logic, and ethics. In this initial setup, three animals — a ram, a cow, and a camel — meet, and the ram suggests they each declare their age to determine who is senior and thus deserving of the larger share of fodder. This appears to be an invitation to a competition based on reason and precedence, yet Rumi subtly unveils the true nature of this rivalry.

First, the ram boasts that it grazed in the same pasture as the ram sacrificed for Ishmael, thus linking its age to the era of Abraham. The cow then raises the stakes, with its mythological knowledge, claiming to be the mate of the cow that helped Adam, the progenitor of humanity, to plow and cultivate the earth. In doing so, these two animals, through boasting and exaggeration, exhaust historical time up to the very beginning of human creation, effectively, they believe, closing the door to any further historical claims.

But then it's the camel's turn. The camel, realizing it cannot compete either in terms of historical antiquity or the ability to concoct grand narratives, chooses a different path. Here, Rumi, with utmost subtlety, expresses the turning point of the narrative. The camel, with its "high neck and huge body," kicks the pile of fodder and cries out, "I have no need for history!" This implies: "I have no need for these stories, these historical fabrications, or this logic. I will take my share by force and bullying, and I will leave you hungry."

This act by the camel is a symbol of overturning the rules of the game, prioritizing brute "force" (زور) over "logic" and "argument." It is at this juncture that Rumi transcends this small story to reveal a profound truth about human history. As I have often noted, "In history, force has truly done everything." Neither logic, nor philosophy, nor reason, nor any other argument can withstand coercive power. This is a key lesson that humanity, even after world wars and the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has not been able to fully master. Indeed, even the precious commodity of human rights has sometimes fallen into the hands of the powerful, becoming a tool for oppression, for "May man never have claws and nails, for then he would think neither of religion nor rectitude." When humans gain power, their ethical and religious considerations often vanish.

This historical reality led Rumi and earlier mystics to often choose withdrawal from political power, prioritizing the path of "self-rectification" over "changing the world." They understood that political struggle is often accompanied by violence and typically leads to merely replacing one oppressor with another. Hence, their philosophy was for each individual to begin with themselves, to cultivate small gardens of virtue within their sphere of influence, and through personal goodness and justice, gradually contribute to the betterment of society. This stands in contrast to perspectives that view everything as contingent upon politics, causing individuals to neglect personal action until grand societal reforms are achieved, sometimes becoming mere "bags of words." This story serves as a reminder that power and its allure should not distract us from our ethical and rational duties.

Key takeaways

• The logic of the ram and cow (boasting and exaggeration) proves ineffective against the camel's brute force, illustrating power's triumph over argument.
• Rumi demonstrates that throughout human history, coercive power has often prevailed over logic, philosophy, and reason.
• When humans acquire power, their ethical and religious considerations often vanish, as encapsulated in the phrase: 'May man never have claws and nails' (when empowered).
• The story alludes to the Sufi tradition emphasizing self-rectification and cultivating individual virtues, rather than attempting to change the world through force or politics.
• Rumi implicitly critiques empty boasts and unsubstantiated words, highlighting the significance of concrete action over mere rhetoric.