M6:3065 — آنچ طورش بر نتابد ذره‌ای / قدرتش جا سازد از قاروره‌ای

Translation: That which Mount Sinai (Ṭūr) cannot bear even a particle of, His power makes it fit within a vial (qārūra). Meaning:* The divine light, which shattered Mount Sinai upon its manifestation, can, by God's infinite power, be contained within a small vessel such as a glass vial, or more profoundly, the heart of a saint.

This verse unveils a profound mystical paradox, illustrating the boundless divine power through a tangible metaphor. Mowlana states that what Mount Sinai, in all its solidity and grandeur, could not bear even a particle of – the divine light itself – can, by God's power, be contained within a 'qārūra' (a glass vial).

The term 'qārūra' is pivotal to understanding this meaning, carrying multiple layers of significance within the Masnavi.

Firstly, in its literal sense of a glass vial, it appears in the Quran (Surah al-Dahr, or al-Insan) describing the houris of paradise: "kānat qawārīrā min fiḍḍatin qaddarūhā taqdīrā" (like vials of silver, which they measure out precisely). This very description is a paradox: glass made of silver, signifying silver so refined and transparent that light passes through it. This Quranic expression itself serves as an allegory for delicacy coupled with hidden capacity.

Secondly, 'qārūra' is found in prophetic traditions and Nahj al-Balagha. The saying "Rifqan bi al-qawārīr" (Be gentle with the glass vials) concerning women, and Imam Ali's description of women as 'qawārīr' who break easily, points to the fragility and delicacy of this vessel. This is a metaphorical statement, not a disparagement, but rather an acknowledgment of human nature's subtle constitution.

Thirdly, 'qārūra' refers to the glass vials used by traditional physicians for urine analysis. Mowlana, with a touch of عارفانه wit, states elsewhere: "Ṭabībān-e dalīr-īm ke qārūra nagīrīm / ke mā dar tan-e bīmār cho andīshe davīdīm" (We are audacious physicians who do not need a vial / for we run like thought through the patient's body). This implies that true mystics and prophets do not require external diagnostics, as they perceive the root of illness by penetrating the essence of being.

However, Mowlana's ultimate interpretation in this verse draws from the Light Verse in Surah an-Nur (24:35): "Allāhu nūru s-samāwāti wa l-ʾarḍi ۚ maṯalu nūrihi kamishkātin fīhā miṣbāḥun ۖ al-miṣbāḥu fī zujājatin ۖ az-zujājatu kaʾannahā kawkabun durriyyun..." (Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche (mishkāt) in which there is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass (zujāja), the glass as if it were a brilliant star...). Mowlana equates 'qārūra' with 'zujāja' (glass) in the Light Verse. With the power of his mystical insight, he offers an allegorical interpretation of this Quranic simile, linking the 'zujāja' and 'mishkāt' to the bodies and hearts of saints and divine men. In subsequent verses, he states:

"Their body is the lampstand (mishkāt), their heart is the glass (zujāja), This lamp shines upon the Throne and the heavens."

This exegesis reveals that the bodies of God's saints are the lampstands and their hearts are the glass (zujāja, or qārūra) through which divine light shines, casting its glow upon the heavens and the divine Throne. Thus, what Mount Sinai could not endure, the heart of a saint fully embraces. This signifies the unparalleled capacity and potential of pure souls and receptive hearts of perfect humans. It is a manifestation of divine power, capable of containing its infinite light within seemingly small yet profoundly vast vessels – the hearts of those attuned to the Divine.

Key takeaways

• Divine power transcends our material comprehension, capable of containing its infinite light in diverse vessels.
• The capacity of saints and perfect humans to endure the manifestations of divine light surpasses even that of immense material entities like Mount Sinai.
• Mowlana's interpretation of the Light Verse identifies the hearts of saints as the 'qārūra' or 'zujāja,' and their bodies as the 'mishkāt,' serving as receptacles for divine illumination.
• This verse highlights the importance of spiritual and inner preparedness to receive divine effulgences; what appears fragile on the surface (the human heart) possesses boundless capacity within.
• The concept of 'qārūra' in Masnavi transcends a mere physical vial, transforming into a symbol of spiritual capacity, delicacy, and simultaneously, the strength to bear God's light.