[^3] The word “ shir ” means “milk” as well as “lion.

[^3] The word “ shir ” means “milk” as well as “lion.” “ Badiyeh ” also denotes two meanings: the first one is “desert” and the other is “cup” and “vessel.” In this poem of Mawlawi it is not exactly clear which one is “lion” and which one is “milk.” Badiyeh is equally not clear which one means “desert” and which is one means “vessel” and “cup.” Or, the word “ zamin ” can also be considered. Sometimes, when we say zamin , we mean a limited, small and specific part of the earth.

When we say, zamin-e keshavarzi [agricultural land] or when we say, “So-and-so has bought such-and-such zamin ,” we mean a limited piece of the earth’s surface.

Yet, at other times by zamin we also mean the earth; for example, when we say, “The earth [ zamin ] is one of the planets in the solar system,” or when we say, “The earth [ zamin ] revolves around the sun.” When the earth is meant, the concept of zamin does not only refer to the surface of the earth but also encompass the atmosphere and space as well as the mines and depth of the earth.

If we say, “So-and-so has bought such-and-such zamin and has also received its land title,” we do not mean that he has bought the earth and registered it under his name, or if we say that the rotation of the earth causes the day-and-night phenomenon, we do not mean that the rotation of the house or garden’s track of land brings about this development. In any case, this problem regarding all words having more than one meaning exists.

In using this kind of words by us or others, we should be careful lest the fallacy of common word were committed. The concept of freedom is also among those concepts having diverse meanings, and is used in various senses in different sciences. Owing to this, there is the possibility of committing the fallacy of common word. Consciously or not, one could possibly issue a decree related to one meaning of freedom for another, and could even cause discord among the proponents of freedom.

Sometimes, on one hand, one would present his understanding of a subject and on the other hand, another would say, “I did not mean what you said. What I meant by the concept and meaning that I was defending was something else.” In contrast, the other one will oppose his statement and say, “What you attributed to me was not what I meant.