M6:124 — این همه اوصافشان نیکو شود / بد نماند چونک نیکوجو شود

Translation: All their qualities become good; No evil remains when one becomes a seeker of good. Meaning: This verse posits that every attribute, even those seemingly negative, transforms into a good and beneficial quality once it is aligned with the pursuit of goodness and its possessor becomes a genuine seeker of virtue.

This couplet articulates a foundational principle both in existence and within the human psyche. Rumi emphasizes a pivotal insight here: nothing is intrinsically and absolutely evil. Rather, its goodness or badness is determined by the direction it takes and the ultimate goal it serves. All qualities, whether mental or physical, become good and fruitful when they are aligned with the pursuit of virtue and a quest for goodness. This means that if the human soul is actively seeking goodness, everything within its body and mind undergoes a metamorphosis, dedicating itself to the good.

I have consistently reiterated that we must not contemplate the eradication or destruction of seemingly negative attributes. As Rumi illustrates in the story of the ashhab horse—a steed that moves backward instead of forward—it should not be killed or discarded. Instead, one must turn its rear towards the destination and utilize its backward motion for advancement. This is precisely the message Victor Hugo, in his own way, conveyed and which the late Allameh Jafari profoundly admired: “Do not take anything away from the spirit; rather, rectify it.” Desires, anger, the urge for food; these are essential forces that cannot be uprooted. Their direction must be altered, placing them under the dominion of a soul that actively seeks goodness.

This act of joining and aligning oneself with the good is the miracle of the human condition. A seemingly foul and decaying speck of matter, once it joins with life, gains vitality and radiance. Iron molecules in our blood become living entities, whereas the same iron outside the body is inert. It is the shadow of life that falls upon them. Every inanimate object that merges with plant life becomes alive; and every plant that merges with the human soul acquires human vitality. Ultimately, the human soul, when it turns its face towards the Beloved, attains eternal life and perpetuity.

The concept of Ma'ad (Resurrection) is nothing other than this joining and elevation. Death is separation; life is joining. Rumi laments this very separation and estrangement, not the inherent badness of things. What constitutes a catastrophe is this severance from one’s origin and truth. But whenever this connection is re-established and the pursuit of goodness prevails, then no “evil” remains, for all becomes good and leads towards the ultimate destination.

Key takeaways

• Absolute evil does not exist; the nature of a quality depends on its orientation and ultimate purpose.
• The goal is not to eradicate negative attributes but to rectify and redirect them (as illustrated by the allegory of the ashhab horse).
• “Joining” (connection) is the miracle of existence, elevating life from a mere speck to union with the Beloved.
• “Separation” and “estrangement” are the catastrophes Rumi laments, not the inherent nature of things.
• When the pursuit of goodness prevails, everything that once appeared evil serves the good and becomes virtuous.
• Ma'ad (Resurrection) itself is a form of joining and elevating the soul to higher levels of life.