M1:300 — بحرِ تلخ و بحرِ شیرین در جهان / در میانشان بَرزَخُ لا یَبغیان

Translation: Bitter seas and sweet seas in this world / Between them is a barrier they do not transgress. Meaning: Drawing inspiration from the Quran, this verse refers to the existence of contradictory yet intertwined dualities in the world, whose essences, though co-present, do not mix and remain discernible.

This verse, inspired by a Quranic expression, unveils a fundamental truth of existence: the world is a stage for the admixture of truth and falsehood, good and evil, sweetness and bitterness. Mawlana borrows this powerful phrase from Surah Ar-Rahman, which states: “He has released the two seas, meeting [side by side]; * Between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses.” Although the Quran does not explicitly mention “bitter and sweet,” Mawlana’s distinction clarifies his message.

I strongly believe that Mawlana here is neither aiming for a geographical description of natural phenomena (like water currents of different densities) nor is he referencing Shi'i symbolic interpretations (which interpret the seas as Ali and Fatima, and the pearls and coral as Hasan and Husayn). He merely adopts this potent expression to illustrate an ontological condition: a world where good and bad, faith and hypocrisy, and true and counterfeit gold are intertwined. This is the essence of existence in this realm; absolute purity is a rare, perhaps even impossible, phenomenon. As Mawlana himself says elsewhere: “This sweet water and salty water are in veins / flowing through creatures until the Day of Resurrection.” This world is inherently a place of admixture, and we will never encounter absolute purity.

I consider this to be precisely what Imam Ali (A.S.) states in Nahj al-Balagha: “Had falsehood been pure of any mixture with truth, it would not have been hidden from the seekers, and had truth been pure of any mixture with falsehood, the tongues of those who oppose it would not have been silenced. But a handful of this and a handful of that are taken and mixed.” This is the crux of the difficulty in discernment. This does not mean one should despair; rather, it means one must always seek the “purer.” Everything in this world, even our sciences, philosophies, and even our physical health, is a blend of strength and weakness.

Mawlana goes on to say that in this world of mixtures, distinguishing the genuine from the counterfeit requires a ‘maḥak’ (touchstone). The touchstone is a stone that differentiates gold from other metals, preventing deception. The existence of these touchstones, both in the external world and within us, is essential for discerning truth from falsehood. Until the Day of Judgment, which is the ‘greatest display,’ these touchstones are our guides. God has not restrained Satan’s hand, and he is busy through his agents until the Day of Judgment to create corruption and impurity; thus, expecting absolute purity in this world is itself a kind of ‘drinking blood’ and seeking sustenance not pre-ordained. One must be realistic and, in this admixture, seek the purer essence.

Key takeaways

• The world is a blend of truth and falsehood, good and evil, sweetness and bitterness; absolute purity is unattainable in this realm.
• Discerning truth from falsehood, which are always intertwined, necessitates an internal and external 'maḥak' (touchstone).
• Mawlana employs the Quranic phrase 'barzakh lā yabghiyān' to describe this non-transgressive admixture of essences.
• The world's lack of absolute purity does not imply despair, but rather an invitation to strive for the 'purer' in all things.
• This insight offers a realistic approach to religion, science, and even human existence, recognizing their inherent blend of perfection and imperfection.