M6:3720 — صورت نعمت بود شاکر شود / صورت مهلت بود صابر شود

Translation: If it be the form of bounty, one becomes thankful; if it be the form of respite, one becomes patient. Meaning: This verse illustrates how human actions and inner states are direct responses to the spiritual forms or conditions that manifest from the unseen realm.

Mowlana, in these gem-like verses of the Masnavi, unveils a truth that underpins our perception of the world and our actions within it: the dialectical interplay of 'form' (ṣūrat) and 'formlessness' (bī-ṣūratī). I have often said that Mowlana finds himself constrained by metaphor and analogy; he admits, 'My analogies never quite measure up to the reality they represent,' yet there is no escaping them, for without them, understanding transcendent truths becomes arduous. It is here that he turns to 'form' to encapsulate intention and thought within action, and bounty and respite within spiritual responses.

In the verse, 'The formless Maker plants a form / The body grows with senses and tools,' God is depicted as the 'formless Maker' who 'plants forms.' These 'forms' can be both internal thoughts and motivations, as well as external conditions and divine gifts. Our specific beyt, 'If it be the form of bounty, one becomes thankful; if it be the form of respite, one becomes patient,' is a brilliant illustration of this principle. Mowlana demonstrates how, when the 'form of bounty' appears, whether inwardly or outwardly, the outcome is gratitude. And when the 'form of respite' — often meaning a grace period or opportunity granted by God, and sometimes a trial or delayed answer — manifests, the result is patience and steadfastness.

I have previously noted that Mowlana does not employ the term 'form' with precise philosophical rigor; he sometimes uses it as a cause and at other times as an effect. However, this fluidity and lack of rigidity itself opens the path to a broader understanding. Here, 'form' can signify both an intention or motivation that settles within an individual, prompting them to gratitude or patience, or an external condition that evokes such a state. The central point is that these actions — becoming thankful or patient — are not merely mechanical reactions; rather, they are rooted in that divine 'formlessness' that is sown within our very being. This is the 'Truth's revelation' (waḥy-i ḥaqq) that elicits responses from us congruent with Truth. It is in this manner that Mowlana teaches us that no action is without roots, and the deepest roots of our actions are hidden in the unseen and formless.

Key takeaways

• Human actions are reflections of 'unseen forms' planted within us.
• When a 'form of bounty' appears, the natural response is gratitude.
• In the face of a 'form of respite' or trial, the human soul leans towards patience and endurance.
• Mowlana uses 'form' to denote both inner intention/motivation and outer circumstance/gift.
• Our behaviors have deep roots in the formless realm, manifesting through these 'forms'.