M6:2080 — جمله ظاهرها به پیش این ظهور / باشد اندر غایت نقص و قصور

Translation: All outward appearances, before this Manifestation, / Are in the uttermost degree of deficiency and imperfection. Meaning: This verse states that everything seemingly manifest in the world is insignificant and incomplete when compared to the grandeur and perfection of the divine manifestation through the Friends of God.

This profound couplet by Mowlana emerges from a discourse on the grandeur and influence of divine men and Friends of God. He posits that even if one is not an inner-seer and cannot grasp the spiritual secrets of these individuals, their perfection and power remain evident even from their outward appearance. The «این ظهور» (this manifestation) to which Mowlana refers is precisely this evident, visible radiance of God's Friends: their presence in the world, their influence over human souls, the blessings and mercies emanating from their being, and their transformative actions in the world that lead humanity towards change and perfection. These 'divine men' are not only replete with truth in their inwardness, but their outward aspect itself stands as an undeniable testament to that inner reality.

Indeed, Mowlana here points to the profound impact the Friends of God have had on the course of human civilization, guiding people from savagery towards human perfection. They are not merely spiritual inspirations but true architects of culture and civilization. The «ظاهرها» (outward appearances) that Mowlana describes as being 'in the uttermost degree of deficiency and imperfection' encompass all other worldly manifestations—from temporal powers to fleeting beauties—when set against this 'manifestation' of the divine. No outward appearance, however great or magnificent it may seem, is complete and perfect in comparison to the manifestation of Truth in the perfect human. This perspective offers a deep insight into existential ranks and prioritizes the 'divine human' who becomes the pivot and center of the world, serving as the criterion for all other appearances. This is why Mowlana employs the metaphor of bats trying to blow out the candle of truth; those who fail to see this manifestation, or attempt to extinguish it, merely deprive themselves of light, for this manifestation is inherently so luminous that no triviality can diminish its perfection or introduce any flaw into it.

Key takeaways

• «This Manifestation» (این ظهور) refers to the divine manifestation through 'divine men,' not merely any earthly appearance.
• The perfection of God's Friends is evident not only in their inner being but also in their outward actions and presence.
• The civilizing influence of these divine individuals, in guiding humanity from savagery to perfection, is unparalleled and superior to any other outward phenomenon.
• Everything apart from the manifestation of Truth in the Perfect Human is inherently deficient and incomplete.
• Mowlana views this manifestation as so potent that no one can extinguish it; those who deny it only deprive themselves of its light.