M6:1079 — ای جهان را زنده کرده ز اصطفا / خاص کرده عام را خاصه مرا

Translation: O You who by Your choosing made the world alive, / You made the common special, especially me. Meaning: Addressed to the Prophet Muhammad, this verse praises him as the reviver of the world and the transformer of ordinary people into elect ones, with the speaker (nominally Abu Bakr, but truly Mowlana) identifying as one such beneficiary of his grace.

This verse, uttered by Abu Bakr to the Prophet in the context of the story of Bilal, is, without a doubt, a profound reflection of Mowlana’s own unreserved love and devotion to the Holy Prophet. As I have repeatedly emphasized, Mowlana’s literary method is such that, as he himself says, “It is sweeter that the secrets of others / Be spoken in the narrative of others.” He expresses his own spiritual state and his deepest affections through the voices of his characters, stating explicitly, “These stories are but a critique of my own condition.”

Here, Mowlana, cloaked in the words of Abu Bakr, hails the Prophet as the reviver of the world—the one who, through his divine “Iṣṭifā” (choosing), sowed the seed of life into the cosmos and cast fire into the darkness of history. He was the source that drew hearts towards the true fountainhead of spiritual life, bestowing light and vitality upon humanity.

Furthermore, the Prophet is presented as possessing the power to “make the common special.” This attribute signifies his extraordinary ability to elevate human beings. Through the light of his guidance and the blessing of his existence, he raises ordinary people to the rank of the elect, bringing them into the sacred precinct of divine proximity with his special grace. The phrase “especially me” further underscores that Mowlana, even through Abu Bakr’s voice, considers himself among those who have benefited from this unique transformative grace, liberated from the obscurity of commonality and elevated to the light of specialness.

This verse is not merely a historical encomium; it is a song from the depths of Mowlana’s soul, a testament to the Prophet’s unparalleled place in existence, and an affirmation of Mowlana’s belief that the essence of spiritual life in the world, and in every individual, flows from the blessed being of the Prophet.

Key takeaways

• The Prophet is the reviver and source of spiritual life for the entire world and humanity.
• The concept of Iṣṭifā (divine election) as the driving force behind human transformation and elevation.
• The Prophet's power to 'make the common special,' spiritually elevating ordinary individuals to the rank of the elect and beloved.
• This verse exemplifies Mowlana's personal love and devotion to the Prophet, expressed through the voices of his characters.
• Mowlana's literary principle: stories and dialogues are reflections and expressions of his own inner spiritual states.