M6:4017 — بهر استبقاء آن روحی جسد / آفتاب از برف یک‌دم درکشد

Translation: For the endurance of that spirit-imbued body, The sun withdraws itself from the snow for a moment.

Meaning: This verse uses a vivid metaphor to explain that sometimes divine manifestations and spiritual lights temporarily recede from the seeker, not out of wrath, but as a wise measure to preserve and strengthen the soul, allowing it to withstand intense illuminations without being overwhelmed or dissolved.

Here, our master Mowlana employs a profound and original metaphor to elucidate a fundamental gnostic truth. I believe Mowlana intends to convey that the apparent withdrawal of divine graces and illuminations is not a sign of divine wrath or forgetfulness, but rather an act of profound wisdom and expediency. He suggests it is akin to possessing snow that you wish to preserve from melting; thus, you temporarily shield it from the direct glare of the sun. This action is by no means an act of anger from the sun towards the snow, but rather a strategic measure for the snow's continued existence and stability.

This very point echoes Mowlana's earlier verse: 'This separation is not a break for (divine) wrath, but for expediency.' Meaning, this separation, this seeming distance, this temporary recession, does not signify an eternal rupture or abandonment. Instead, it serves a greater purpose. When the influx of divine lights upon a soul becomes overwhelmingly intense, that soul might be cast into such a spiritual tumult and tremor that it cannot bear the sheer volume of light. In such moments, God temporarily places that soul in the shade to allow it to recover, gain stability, and prepare for subsequent flights. This is not a demotion of stature, but a necessary respite for renewed ascent.

I interpret this as the very understanding mystics offered for the Prophet Muhammad's famous words to his wife Aisha: 'Kallimīnī yā Humayrā' ('Speak to me, O Humayra'). The Prophet, that sacred being whose words captivated the world and whose presence was sought by all, would at times ask Aisha, known as 'Humayra' (the fair-skinned one), to speak with him. The mystics explained that this was not merely a matter of ordinary longing or marital affection. Rather, it meant that when the Prophet became fatigued from the zenith of his spiritual experiences and his celestial journey, and became intensely 'heated' in that higher realm, he would descend to earth, to his wife, to temporarily return to the terrestrial, to cool down, to find peace, and to gain respite from those heavenly states, thereby preparing himself for the next ascent. This is precisely the 'sun withdrawing from the snow for a moment.'

Even some poets have articulated this need to descend from the peak of spiritual experience in their works; for instance, a poet says: 'These elaborations in my poetry / Are my 'Kallimīnī yā Humayrā'.' Meaning, the very act of composing poetry and engaging with words and literary devices is itself a form of descent from that speechless height and the warmth of divine manifestation, allowing the soul to refresh itself and prepare for return to that realm. Thus, this temporary withdrawal, this fleeting concealment, is not a calamity, but rather an act of grace, wisdom, and divine providence for the endurance of that spirit, which, like a melting body, stands in need of this divine expediency.

Key takeaways

• The temporary withdrawal of divine lights is an act of God's wisdom and expediency, not wrath.
• The purpose of this 'expedient separation' is to preserve and strengthen the soul's capacity to withstand more intense manifestations.
• Just as snow is shielded from the sun to endure, the soul requires temporary 'shade' for its survival and growth.
• Prophets and mystics, after reaching spiritual peaks, also need to 'descend' for rest and renewal.
• This divine providence demonstrates God's tenderness and care for His servants, even in moments of apparent distance.