M6:2079 — حکم بر ظاهر اگر هم می‌کنی / چیست ظاهرتر بگو زین روشنی

Translation: If you judge even by externals, Tell me, what is more manifest than this Radiance? Meaning: Mowlana challenges those who judge solely by appearances, asking if the radiant presence and profound impact of God's Friends are not the most evident realities one can observe.

What Mowlana asserts in this verse is a resounding challenge to those who judge solely by superficial appearances, denying or at least downplaying the inner realities of existence. He asks, with an incisive rhetorical flourish: If you deem yourself incapable of discerning the inner truth and choose to judge only by externals, then tell me, what outward manifestation is brighter and more evident than this 'Radiance' (roshanī) emanating from the Friends of God (awliyā-yi ḥaqq)? This 'Radiance' is not merely an inner perception or fleeting sentiment; it is the concrete, manifested power, spiritual influence over souls (taṣarruf dar nufūs), and divine blessings (barakāt) that these figures embody. Mowlana strongly emphasizes that the Friends of God, with their immense spiritual capabilities, have been the source of countless blessings and mercies in the world. The profound impact of these divine men and women on the trajectory of human civilization—their role in lifting humanity from savagery and primitivism toward culture, urbanity, and spiritual perfection—is itself the clearest proof of this assertion. These effects are not veiled or mysterious; they are as manifest as the sun for all to see. As confirmed by this verse and the one immediately following it—"All externals, before this manifestation, / Are in the ultimate degree of imperfection and deficiency"—all other worldly appearances pale in comparison to this luminous and unique emergence. Those who are unable to perceive this radiance are akin to bats who cannot tolerate the light of the sun. They are not enemies of the sun, but rather their own adversaries, for they deprive themselves of the nurturing and life-giving essence of this light. This verse is a call to awaken our perception toward that which, despite its subtle origin, is more evident than any tangible or observable phenomenon. Undeniably, the blessed presence of the awliyā in every era is the 'most external' reality that anyone wishing to judge by appearances must ultimately acknowledge.

Key takeaways

• The manifestation of God's Friends is more evident than any other external phenomenon.
• The power, blessings, and spiritual influence of the awliyā serve as proof of their inner radiance.
• Their impact on civilization and human perfection is an undeniable testament to their 'Radiance'.
• Those who fail to see this light merely deprive themselves of its guiding grace.