M6:2617 — زانک میراث از رسول آنست و بس / که ببیند غیبها از پیش و پس

Translation: For the Prophet's inheritance is precisely this: That one may behold the hidden, from both future and past.

Meaning: The true legacy of the prophets is not material wealth or mystical clairvoyance, but a profound, farsighted intellect capable of discerning the unseen consequences of actions, extending beyond the immediate present.

The "inheritance from the Prophet" that Mawlana speaks of in this verse is, without doubt, the "prophetic intellect" (ʿaql-i rasūlāna), not material wealth or even dry theological doctrines. This prophetic intellect does not signify clairvoyance, fortune-telling, or predicting a thousand years into the future. Even the Prophet of Islam made no such claim, and the Quran explicitly states: "Say, 'If I had knowledge of the unseen, I would have accumulated much good'" (Quran 7:188). This verse, especially pertinent given the Prophet's early trade activities, unequivocally refutes absolute knowledge of the unseen. Therefore, "to behold the hidden, from both future and past" refers to farsightedness (dūrandīshī)—the ability to discern the consequences (payāmadhā) and outcomes (natāyij) of actions that have not yet manifested. A wise and mature person perceives the hundredth and thousandth steps from the very beginning, rather than settling for mere appearance and surface.

This prophetic intellect, contrary to some assumptions, is not acquired through isolation and seclusion. Mawlana states in the preceding verse (M6:2616): "Seek, in gatherings, among intellects, / Such intellect as was in the Prophet." This means one must seek that prophetic intellect in the company of others, in conversation and communion with those of wisdom. For this very reason, the Prophet of Islam repeatedly forbade rahbāniyat (monasticism) and retreating to mountains. Monasticism deprives one of the insights of others and the benefits of companionship with the righteous. In the Muslim world, almost no one has ever endorsed monasticism, as the Prophet declared: "The monasticism of my community is sitting in the mosques." This hadith, along with teachings such as jihad, Friday prayers, visiting the sick, and removing obstacles from people's paths, all demonstrate Islam's emphasis on social cooperation and solidarity. Thus, prophetic foresight and insight are attained not by withdrawing from society, but within its fabric, through the utilization of collective wisdom. Mawlana further emphasizes that the Prophet's prohibition of monasticism and isolation is itself a sign of the majesty and glory of the Sharia, which forbids individuals from "monastic asceticism and retreating to the mountains."

Key takeaways

• The true legacy of the prophets is farsighted intellect, not absolute knowledge of the unseen or prophecy.
• "Beholding the hidden, from before and after" means discerning the unseen consequences of actions, not mere clairvoyance.
• This prophetic intellect is cultivated through social interaction and gatherings with the wise, not through isolation or monasticism.
• Islam and Mawlana reject monasticism, viewing it as an impediment to collective wisdom and social understanding.