M6:2611 — امرهم شوری برای این بود / کز تشاور سهو و کژ کمتر رود

Translation: Their affairs (are determined by) consultation for this reason, That from deliberation, error and crookedness would less frequently occur. Meaning: This verse conveys that the divine command for consultation is given so that through collective deliberation, mistakes and deviations in decision-making are minimized.

This couplet by Mawlana is, without doubt, a profound and insightful interpretation of the Quranic injunction for consultation, as expressed in the verse: "And their affairs are [decided by] consultation among themselves (وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ)". Mawlana, with his unique spiritual discernment, not only articulates the practical function of consultation but also delves into its deeper, even sacred, dimensions.

I contend that Mawlana offers two primary reasons for the virtue of consultation here. The first is the aspect universally acknowledged: the aggregation of multiple intellects brings greater illumination. As Mawlana himself puts it: "These intellects are like bright lamps; / Twenty lamps are brighter than one." That is, when several minds and opinions converge, each casts its own light, and the convergence of these lights produces clarity and lucidity far exceeding that of a single lamp. Through this process, the probability of error (سهو) or "crookedness" (کژ)—that is, deviation and distortion—is significantly reduced. Collective intelligence, due to the breadth and diversity of its perspectives, is typically more immune to individual mistakes.

However, a point that Mawlana elevates to a level of importance perhaps less commonly appreciated is the second reason: "It is hoped that a lamp might fall among them, / Ignited by the light of heaven." It is here that the act of consultation transcends a mere rational and pragmatic recommendation and takes on a metaphysical hue. Mawlana refers to the hope that, within this deliberating group, there might exist an intellect illuminated by a heavenly light, one that has attained a vision beyond ordinary intellects—or, to put it another way, a "prophetic" intellect that, through spiritual discipline or divine grace, has accessed "heavenly illumination." In this world teeming with impurities, where the "lower and higher are mixed," these "celestial dwellers" and "subtle seers" may not be outwardly discernible. Yet, the space of consultation acts as a catalyst, providing a capacity for these hidden insights to emerge and manifest. This "lamp," lit by the light of heaven, offers guidance that leads the collective towards absolute rectitude, safeguarding it from any error or crookedness. Thus, consultation serves not only to gather intellects but also to "discover" and "utilize" superior, perhaps even spiritual and sacred, minds.

Key takeaways

• Consultation, beyond being a rational recommendation, is a sacred and Quranic command that leads to error reduction.
• The multitude of intellects, like the illumination of many lamps, creates greater clarity and discernment in decision-making.
• Consultation provides a capacity for the emergence of a "prophetic intellect" or heavenly insights that might otherwise remain hidden within a group.
• In a world where the "lower and higher are mixed," consultation is a tool for distinguishing and utilizing superior wisdom.