M6:1316 — نه سببها و اثرها مغز و پوست / چون بجویی جملگی آثار اوست

Translation: Neither causes nor their effects are kernel and shell; when you search, all are but His signs (āthār). Meaning: This verse asserts that what we perceive as independent causes and their effects in the world are not the ultimate reality; rather, they are all manifestations and signs of God's singular agency and power.

I contend that this verse opens a window into one of Rumi's most profound monotheistic insights: Tawhid al-Af'al, the unity of acts. What we perceive in the cosmos as 'causes' (sabab-hā) and 'effects' (athar-hā) are merely the outward shell of reality, not its kernel and essence. Rumi argues that to consider these causes and effects as having separate 'kernel and shell' is a flawed perspective. When one truly seeks and delves deeper (chun bujoyi), one realizes that all of them, without exception, are 'His signs' (āthār-i ūst). This means the hidden hand of the Divine is at work everywhere, and everything that exists is a manifestation of His direct or indirect action.

I have previously noted how Rumi urges us to infer the 'absent' from the 'present'. He states that wind cannot be seen, but the movement of tree leaves indicates its presence. This perspective builds a bridge from the sensible to the intelligible, from the apparent to the inner reality. However, in this verse, Rumi goes a step further. He suggests that even these causes and effects, to which we resort to grasp the absent, are in fact themselves effects of that absolute Absent One. This is a pure monotheism that strips all apparent causes of existential and functional independence, returning it all to the Divine Presence.

This theme is clearly reflected in the exegesis of prophetic miracles and the wonders of saints. Miracles affecting inanimate objects, such as the parting of the sea or the resurrection of the dead, are temporary and borrowed; phenomena manifested to stir the hidden spirit of humanity. But a miracle that directly impacts the human soul connects one to the 'hidden relationship'. In this realm, 'bread without the hyle of dough' sometimes appears; meaning an unmerited, causeless bestowal that flows from the pure ones of truth, demonstrating that the normal chain of causality can be bypassed. This precisely indicates that 'causes and effects' are merely the outward form and 'shell' of reality; the 'kernel' of truth is the absolute will and power of God, which can create an effect without any prerequisite.

Therefore, this verse is an invitation to transcend the surface of phenomena and delve into the depth of relationships. Causes and effects are not veils that prevent us from seeing God; rather, they are verses themselves that continuously announce His presence and action. This is the perspective that leads one to the insight of 'Every day He is in a new state' (Kulla yawmin huwa fī shaʾn); every moment God is in a new work and manifestation, and all causes and effects reflect this continuous happening. In this view, not only the 'human condition' but the entire cosmos is an interconnected, orchestral whole, where every note is a melody of 'His signs'.

Key takeaways

• Causes and effects are not the intrinsic essence of existence; they constitute merely its shell and outward appearance.
• All phenomena in the world, even those appearing causal, are ultimately manifestations of God's power and action.
• This verse points to Tawhid al-Af'al, the belief that all actions in the cosmos originate from the Divine Truth.
• Apparent causality can be overridden by divine power, as seen in the miracles of saints and prophets.
• The key is to look beyond the surface of causes and delve into their ultimate 'effects,' which are the acts of God.