M6:35 — زهرها هرچند زهری می‌کنند / زود تریاقاتشان بر می‌کنند

Translation: Poisons, however much they act as poisons, Their antidotes quickly rise up against them. Meaning: This verse speaks to the wise divine providence in creation, asserting that every harmful agent in nature is accompanied by its antidote or cure.

When I consider this verse, I am drawn to a deeper truth within Mawlana's worldview: the concept of “Divine Providence” (tadbir-i ilahi) at work in creation. The world, as Mawlana perceives it, is not merely chaotic or disordered; rather, it is governed by a distinct form of order. He declares, “Poisons, however much they act as poisons, their antidotes quickly rise up against them.” This is not merely an empirical observation but the articulation of a cosmic principle.

In the realm of nature, nothing is left without guidance or a counter-measure. Whenever a defilement, a toxicity, or a thorn manifests, a compensatory mechanism or an antidote simultaneously emerges from existence itself. Just as “waters strive to purify defilements,” so too do “their antidotes rise up against poisons.” This implies that the cosmos is a living, self-regulating entity that has equipped every shortcoming or corruption with the means for its own repair and purification. This principle operates not only on the surface of nature but also in the inner essence of being and within the human soul. Every suffering carries within it a seed of healing, and every separation harbors the promise of reunion.

This utterance serves as a prelude to a more profound worldview that reaches its zenith in the Masnavi: “This world is entirely war, if you but look.” The natural world, according to Mawlana, is built upon contradictions and opposites (azdad). The existence of poison and antidote, impurity and cleansing water, thorn and fire, are all manifestations of this overarching principle of conflict. Yet, critically, this conflict does not signify chaos; rather, it acts as a motor for movement and life. The world finds meaning and remains dynamic not by negating its opposites, but by their very presence and equilibrium. It is this divine providence that, amidst this struggle and contradiction, has also placed the mechanism of survival and balance. Therefore, poisons are never capable of absolute victory, for their antidotes are always lying in wait. This belief in antidotes fundamentally rejects pessimism and teaches us to always look towards the possibility of redemption and liberation.

Key takeaways

• Divine Providence: Existence is so created that for every harm, its antidote and cure are also provided.
• Principle of Contradiction: The world is founded on opposites (good and evil, poison and antidote), yet this very tension is a source of balance and life.
• Rejection of Pessimism: A profound belief that no evil in the world is absolute or unchallenged; the possibility of liberation and healing always exists.
• Cosmic Self-Regulation: The world is a living, intelligent system capable of self-repair and purification through compensatory mechanisms.