M6:1110 — خویش را یک‌دم برین کوران دهد / تا غریو از کوی کوران بر جهد

Translation: For a moment, He gives Himself to these blind ones, So that a cry may leap forth from the street of the blind. Meaning: The Divine Beloved sometimes reveals a glimpse of Himself even to those spiritually blind and heedless, hoping that this momentary divine presence will ignite a cry of awakening within them, shaking them from their slumber.

I read this couplet within Rumi's discourse on divine manifestation and intimate interaction, which he terms tajassum. Prior to this, Rumi speaks of God's playful teasing (lāgh bā khūbān) with His beloved ones. The trials and tribulations that befall these cherished souls are, in reality, signs of deeper divine attention and love, a means to awaken them to an even higher state of awareness. However, the narrative does not end there. Sometimes, this very attention and this "giving of Himself" extends even to the "blind" (kūrān). By "blind," Rumi refers to those who are heedless of the truths of the world and the presence of the Beloved; their eyes are closed to reality, and they dwell in ignorance.

Here, Rumi states that God, for a moment, reveals Himself or entrusts Himself even to these blind ones. This "giving of Himself" might manifest through suffering, a strange event, or even an inner stirring. This occurrence, originating from the Eternal Beloved, serves a sublime purpose: "so that a cry may leap forth from the street of the blind." This "cry" (gharīv) is a shout born of awakening, protest, wonder, or even pain. It signifies that a spark has been ignited in the depths of the heedless souls, rousing them from their profound slumber. They are no longer in silence and lethargy; a voice has risen from them. This is the very "stirring" (be shūr āvardan) that was alluded to in the preceding verse: "He also stirs the blind at times."

Here, I clearly perceive Rumi's optimistic view on human awakening. This divine nudge, though it may initially appear as suffering or distress, ultimately aims for nothing but awakening and liberation. This "cry" is the beginning of the journey, a sign that one has begun to hear. It is like someone in a deep sleep, suddenly startled by a sound, leaping awake with a cry. This cry, though it might stem from disquiet, is in fact the gateway to consciousness. This is a message that the Beloved sends to the world, a message for all, even those who seem incapable of understanding it. The prerequisite for hearing is having ears to hear; otherwise, one becomes like the person who hears no sound from the dozens of drummers around them and perceives the gentle touch of a basil leaf as harm.

Key takeaways

• Divine presence manifests not only for the beloved but sometimes also to awaken the heedless (the blind).
• Suffering and sudden divine nudges can serve as instruments to 'stir' and awaken one from the slumber of heedlessness.
• The 'cry' that emerges from the unaware signifies the beginning of awakening and the end of ignorant silence.
• Rumi's view of suffering is constructive; trials carry a message for greater consciousness.
• Even in the depths of heedlessness, there exists a window for divine manifestation and the possibility of awakening.