M6:4358 — نیست مخفی مزد دادن در تقی / ساحران را اجر بین بعد از خطا

Translation: The rewarding of piety is not hidden; But behold the recompense of sorcerers after their error. Meaning: This verse suggests that while the rewards for righteous deeds are evident, God's hidden grace can also manifest within transgression, granting unexpected recompense and a path to spiritual growth and forgiveness to wrongdoers after their mistakes.

Mowlana, in this couplet, undoubtedly points to one of his deepest mystical and theological teachings: God's 'Lutf-i Khafī' (hidden grace). Many people assume that reward and retribution manifest only along the straightforward path of good deeds and worship. Indeed, the Divine Bestower openly and clearly grants the recompense for piety and devotion; this is not a hidden matter, but a self-evident one. Yet, the deeper truth is that divine wisdom sometimes operates with such subtlety and secrecy that even within sin and rebellion, it plants the seeds of grace and spiritual growth.

The phrase, 'Behold the recompense for sorcerers after their error,' serves as a luminous example of this 'hidden grace.' These sorcerers, who initially stood against Moses and intended to combat the truth, at a moment of profound realization, grasped the truth of their initial transgression and submitted immediately. That very error did not lead to their annihilation; rather, it became an ascension to their martyrdom and salvation. It is as if that same error became a bridge towards gnosis and self-sacrifice. This illustrates that the path to guidance is not always direct; sometimes, straying itself becomes a prelude to guidance, as Mowlana says: 'Through generosity, God made that very error a means to growth and benefit.'

This is the subtle point that states: 'No benefactor should be without awe, and no betrayer without hope.' Even the most virtuous should always live in fear of stumbling, and no sinner should despair of divine mercy. God, who is 'Dhū’l-Luṭfi’l-Khafī' (The Possessor of Hidden Grace), sometimes places the antidote within the poison itself, much like a vaccine that generates defense from the microbe itself. This wisdom renders sinners worthy of a special grace not bestowed upon the faultless pure. Repentance, then, is not merely a return to zero, but a leap to higher spiritual stations. A sin that culminates in sincere regret and genuine repentance is a 'blessed' transgression that elevates an individual from a score of five to twenty, not just to zero. This is where misdeeds are transformed into good deeds; they are not merely erased, but transmuted into spiritual capital.

This is a lesson from the 'makr' (strategem) of God, of which we read in the Quran: 'And they schemed, and God schemed; and God is the best of schemers.' Enemies who intended to humiliate the prophets only brought about their honor and the manifestation of their miracles; Abraha, who came with the intention of destroying the Kaaba, paradoxically became the cause of its reinforcement and increased veneration, and the poor Arabs were enriched by his abandoned spoils. All these are testimonies to the fact that sometimes, from crooked paths, a harvest of benevolence is reaped. This very meaning resonates with Imam Ali's words: 'I knew God through the breaking of resolutions and the thwarting of intentions.' The recognition of God lies in these reversals and His hidden designs, not solely within the obvious channels of devotion and worship.

Key takeaways

• While the reward for piety is evident, God's hidden grace operates even within apparent error.
• Sin and transgression can become a springboard for spiritual insight and salvation, as exemplified by the sorcerers' recompense after their mistake.
• Repentance is not merely an erasure of sin; it is an alchemy that transforms misdeeds into good deeds, elevating the individual to higher spiritual states.
• God's 'hidden grace' sometimes places the antidote within the poison itself, revealing a concealed good within apparent evil.
• No virtuous person should be without fear of stumbling, and no sinner should despair of divine mercy (the balance of awe and hope).