M6:2987 — آنچنان که خلق آواز نجوم / می‌شنیدند از خصوص و از عموم

Translation: So that the people, both common and elite, / Heard the sound of the stars. Meaning: This verse explains how, through Idris, who shared an inherent affinity with the stars, the knowledge of astrology became audibly manifest and accessible to all people, as if they were hearing the stars speak.

This verse continues the narrative Maulana recounts concerning the Prophet Idris, a story largely rooted in myths and legends rather than concrete historical accounts. While Idris's name does appear in the Quran and Torah, Maulana, in his customary fashion, amplifies these myths, imbuing them with his distinct mystical coloration.

The pivotal concept within this and the preceding verses is jinsiyat, which denotes an inherent affinity or inner congruence. Maulana has earlier stated that "recklessness attracts recklessness / For they are of the same kind in intellect." This implies a universal principle: every being, whether good or ill, beautiful or ugly, seeks out its own kind, establishing a profound attraction between them. This is a fundamental law of the cosmos.

In the case of Idris, this jinsiyat was established with the nujūm (stars); he possessed an inner, spiritual bond with the celestial bodies, particularly Saturn (Zuhal). Maulana narrates that Idris spent years in the East and West, intimately associated with Saturn, becoming "its fellow conversationalist and confidant of its effects." This profound congruence and empathy with the stars granted Idris the ability to hear and comprehend the secrets of the heavens. When Idris returned to Earth, he taught astrology, and it was as if the stars themselves attended his lessons, arraying themselves before him.

This particular verse ultimately describes the fruit of this very jinsiyat and affinity: people, both commoners and elites, heard the "sound of the stars" through Idris. This "sound," of course, is not to be understood as the physical noises emitted by celestial bodies, but rather as a profound and symbolic comprehension of their movements and influences. Idris, by virtue of his inner connection, became a conduit through whom the stars spoke, and their knowledge reached the ears of all. This demonstrates that to grasp the deep truths of the universe, mere external observation is insufficient; instead, an inner jinsiyat or congruence with that truth is required to truly "hear its voice."

Key takeaways

• The manifestation of esoteric knowledge (like astrology) through special individuals (Idris) who possess an inner affinity with those truths.
• The concept of jinsiyat (inner congruence or affinity) as a principle of attraction and comprehension of hidden realities in Rumi's worldview.
• Maulana's use of ancient myths and legends to convey mystical truths, imbuing them with new depth and meaning.
• Hearing the "sound of the stars" not in a physical sense, but as a symbolic and intuitive perception of the cosmic order and its secrets.
• The ability of saints and prophets to act as intermediaries between the unseen and phenomenal worlds, revealing hidden truths to the populace.