M6:2661 — هم شده حمال و هم جاسوس او / گفت غایب را کنان محسوس او

Translation: It (the wind) became both his (Solomon's) porter and his spy; It made the hidden perceptible to him.

Meaning: In this verse, Rumi describes the wind's dual role under Solomon's command: serving as a carrier for his throne and acting as a spy, revealing hidden conversations and secrets to him.

Rumi here speaks of Solomon's power over natural elements, presenting an original image of the wind that transcends a mere natural force, transforming it into a conscious and obedient entity. This verse continues the Quranic narratives that portray the wind as subservient to Solomon, although the detailed role of the wind as a 'spy' is found more extensively in exegetical traditions and legends surrounding Solomon, which Rumi, with a mystical gaze, animates.

I understand this to be Rumi's own expression, likely derived from sources such as Abu'l-Futuh Razi's commentary. Rumi demonstrates how a natural element, under the spiritual authority of a prophet, can acquire supra-natural functions. The wind in this depiction was not only Solomon's 'porter,' carrying his throne a month's journey in a morning or evening, but also his 'spy.' This means that the very wind that roamed and peered everywhere would hear the hidden and absent conversations of people and immediately convey them to Solomon's ear.

This narrative should be understood in light of Rumi's perspective on the 'language of nature.' As I have previously stated, speaking is not limited to human language; nature also possesses its own distinct tongue. Just as Galileo realized that the book of nature is written in the language of mathematics and that one must learn mathematics to understand nature, the mystic learns another language to comprehend it. Here, the wind seemingly possesses awareness and hearing, capable of apprehending 'hidden speech' (private conversations) and making it 'perceptible' to Solomon; that is, it reveals what is concealed from ordinary sight and hearing, bringing it within the king's sensory domain. This exemplifies the profound penetration of the perfect human into the cosmos and the interconnectedness of their spirit with all creation, such that nature, as if an organ of their being, serves their will and discloses secrets to them. In this view, the boundaries of sense and consciousness, as we ordinarily know them, are dissolved, and the world, as if in an encompassing sentience, speaks to the prophet and obeys their command.

Key takeaways

• Under Solomon's command, the wind in the Masnavi assumes the dual roles of 'porter' and 'spy,' carrying and revealing secrets.
• This verse illustrates the capacity of natural elements to transcend their ordinary functions under the spiritual authority of a prophet.
• The concept of the 'language of nature' is highlighted here; the wind appears to possess hearing and consciousness, capable of discerning 'hidden speech.'
• Solomon is portrayed as a perfect human, with whom nature is in direct and subservient communication.
• Rumi intertwines Quranic narratives and associated myths with a mystical perspective, imbuing them with esoteric meaning.