M6:3237 — پس به معنی باغ باشد این نه آب / پس مشو عریان چو بلقیس از حباب

Translation: Thus, in essence, this is a garden, not water; So do not be exposed like Bilqis from a bubble. Meaning: This verse advises the reader to perceive the inner truth of phenomena, rather than their deceptive outward forms. What appears as mere water is, in reality, a fruitful garden, and one should not be fooled by illusions, as Bilqis was by a deceptive appearance.

Here, I tell you that in this profound verse, which follows the peculiar story of the man named Omar in the city of Kashan, Rumi offers the ultimate insight into his vision of the unity of being and the multiplicity of appearances. The man named Omar, who sought bread in Kashan and was directed from one shop to another, failing to grasp that all shops acted as one in denying him bread, was an 'ahwal' — meaning he was cross-eyed or had a dualistic vision, unable to perceive unity. This 'ahwali' or duality leads individuals to wander and be deprived in the 'Kashan of dust,' meaning this earthly realm, and does not liberate them from 'hitherto reference' (havāla jā-be-jā), that is, from this constant wandering, hesitation, and meaninglessness of life.

Rumi, drawing a conclusion from this tale, states: "Thus, in essence, this is a garden, not water." This is the apex of the discussion. The flowing water, which was previously spoken of as reflecting apples that would fill one's basket with real apples, is in the superficial view merely water. But in its 'meaning' (maʿnī) and in truth, it is a garden. This signifies that what at first glance appears to be merely a reflection or an illusion is, in reality, the source of life, fruit, and reality itself. Mystics have many such experiences; matters considered 'imagination' by others are, for the mystic, 'reality itself' clothed in the guise of imagination. Truth does not manifest solely in material form but possesses various ranks and garments.

Following this profound elucidation, Rumi moves to another point, saying: "So do not be exposed like Bilqis from a bubble." This is a direct reference to the Quranic story of the Queen of Sheba, Bilqis, and her encounter with Prophet Solomon (Quran 27:44). Solomon had a palace whose floor was made of glass, beneath which water flowed. When Bilqis entered, mistaking the glass floor for water, she lifted her skirt to wade through it, exposing her shins. Solomon then informed her that it was a 'smooth paved palace of glass.' Here, Rumi warns us not to be deceived by the 'bubble' of appearance, just as Bilqis was. The 'bubble' (habāb) here symbolizes this deceptive appearance, this illusion or delusion that distracts us from the truth. Bilqis, based on a mere assumption and illusion, 'exposed' herself, meaning she put herself at risk of error and ignominy. Rumi advises us not to leave ourselves naked and defenseless before the truth due to superficiality, thinking we face a mere bubble of water, when in reality, we stand before a fruitful garden. This is an invitation to cultivate an 'insightful eye' that recognizes 'the King in every guise.'

This unified vision is what imparts 'meaning' to human life and liberates one from 'melancholy' and perpetual wandering. When the 'stream' of the human soul is full of the pure water of gnosis and love, there is no room left for the debris and melancholic waste. This insightful eye and lover-like heart perceive the Beloved filling 'both realms' and free one from 'hitherto reference' and fruitless endeavors.

Key takeaways

• It is crucial to journey from appearance to meaning; what seems like mere water can, in essence, be a fruitful garden.
• One must not be deceived by the "bubble" of superficial forms; dualistic vision obstructs the perception of underlying unity.
• The story of Bilqis symbolizes one who is fooled by illusion, needlessly exposing herself to error.
• Duality of vision ('ahwali') in the 'Kashan of dust' (the world) leads to wandering and deprivation of the bread of truth.
• Spiritual awakening and seeing unity within multiplicity liberate life from melancholy and meaninglessness.