M6:1174 — بوی پیغامبر ببرد آن شیر نر / هم‌چنانک بوی یوسف را پدر

Translation: That lion-hearted man was drawn by the Prophet's scent, just as Joseph's father (Jacob) was by Joseph's scent. Meaning: This couplet illustrates how the spiritual and existential magnetism of prophets attracts hearts, not through rational argument or proof, but through an inner 'scent' and profound pull, akin to Jacob's visceral attraction to Joseph's fragrance.

This couplet unveils a profound truth in the realm of meaning, one I have often highlighted: the role of 'scent' in spiritual perception and attraction. Here, Rumi narrates the story of how the Prophet Muhammad, out of compassion for a man named Hilal, visits a dark and foul stable. Yet, as the 'ulfa' (affection/intimacy) and the Prophet's spiritual 'scent' arrive, all ugliness and impurity 'rose up' and vanished. This is a point I must emphasize: this transformation occurs not through a miracle, but through a spiritual fragrance.

I strongly believe that the primary magnetism of the Friends of God and the Prophets stems from this very existential 'scent' and the fragrance of prophecy and revelation. There are individuals who perceive this 'scent' and, without any need for miracles, surrender their hearts to faith. Miracles, as I have remarked elsewhere, are often for 'crushing enemies,' for overpowering opponents and completing the argument, not for instilling faith in the hearts of believers. True faith is never coerced by force or the overpowering nature of a miracle; rather, it arises from attraction and intimacy, from receiving this very scent of truth.

Rumi, to elucidate this phenomenon, immediately refers to the story of Joseph and Jacob (peace be upon them both); a narrative that for centuries in our culture has symbolized perception beyond ordinary senses. Jacob is blind, and Joseph is in Egypt, yet the scent of Joseph's shirt reaches Jacob from hundreds of miles away, stirring profound longing within him. This example clarifies that this 'scent' is not an ordinary sensation; it is an intuitive and heartfelt perception that transcends the boundaries of time and space. The Prophets themselves are the very 'ambergris and musk' of the world, and their presence, not through sound but through scent, captivates hearts. This is what mystics refer to as 'raz-shenasi' (secret-knowing, literally 'scent-knowing') and the 'fragrance of the unseen'; a perception realized through the spiritual sense of smell, opening a direct path to the heart of truth.

Key takeaways

• The attraction of prophets and divine saints stems from their spiritual and existential fragrance, not merely from miracles.
• Miracles primarily serve to overpower enemies and finalize arguments, not to instill genuine faith in believers' hearts.
• True faith is cultivated through heartfelt attraction and the reception of truth's 'scent,' not by coercion or force.
• The story of Joseph and Jacob symbolizes extrasensory, heart-felt perception that transcends time and space.
• Spiritual presence has the power to transform environmental ugliness and impurity into beauty and purity.