In the Masnavi, Rumi subverts the traditional philosophical view of man and the universe. While classical philosophers considered the physical universe to be the 'macrocosm' (عالم اکبر) and man merely its miniature reflection, the 'microcosm' (عالم اصغر), Rumi's divine philosophy argues the exact opposite. He posits that in mere physical form (صورت), man is indeed the microcosm, but in spiritual reality and ultimate purpose (معنی), man is the macrocosm.

Rumi illustrates this with the analogy of a tree and its fruit: although the fruit appears last on the branch, the gardener planted the entire tree specifically for the sake of the fruit. Therefore, the universe is merely the physical scaffold created for the realization of human consciousness and the Perfect Man (Insan al-Kamil), making human spiritual reality the true major world.