The Sage of Ghazna [1] told the mystic story to his veiled hearers, in an allegory:
If those who err see naught in the Qur'an
But only words, it's not to wonder on;
Of all the sun's fire, lighting up the sky
Only the warmth can reach a blind man's eye.[2][1=The poet Sana'i, 2=Rumi, The Mathnavi, III, 4229-4231] (73:1)

"Many will He mislead by such parables and many guide: but none will He mislead thereby except the wicked..."[1][1=Qur'an 2:24] (73:2)

It is certain that the greatest of instrumentalities for achieving the advancement and the glory of man, the supreme agency for the enlightenment and the redemption of the world, is love and fellowship and unity among all the members of the human race. Nothing can be effected in the world, not even conceivably, without unity and agreement, and the perfect means for engendering fellowship and union is true religion. "Hadst Thou spent all the riches of the earth, Thou couldst not have united their hearts; but God hath united them..."[1][1=Qur'an 8:64] (73:3)

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