In Book Three of Rumi's Masnavi, the existence of powerful worldly kings is explained as a divine instrument for subjugating tyrants who refuse to submit directly to God. Rumi draws an analogy to Moses, who built a small gate at the outskirts of Jerusalem so that the arrogant Children of Israel would be forced to bow their heads upon entering. Similarly, God places imposing rulers over the arrogant to break their pride and compel submission, illustrating that even harsh worldly power structures can serve a higher spiritual purpose in disciplining the ego.