M6:1302 — معجزه کان بر جمادی زد اثر / یا عصا با بحر یا شق‌القمر

Translation: A miracle that had an effect on an inanimate object, Be it the staff (of Moses) with the sea, or the splitting of the moon.

Meaning: This verse refers to famous, external miracles performed by prophets upon inanimate objects and nature, such as Moses' staff parting the sea or Prophet Muhammad's splitting of the moon.

Mowlana begins by referring to renowned external miracles, such as Moses' staff parting the sea, or the Prophet's splitting of the moon (shaqq al-qamar). Yet, this is merely a prelude to his deeper discourse. He contrasts these wonders, which 'struck an inanimate object,' with those that directly impact the human soul. Indeed, these apparent miracles, as Mowlana suggests, are but signs pointing to a hidden reality, much like observing the rustling of leaves reveals the presence of wind. The crux of the matter, he argues, is what happens if the same miracle 'strikes your soul directly' (bar jān zanad bī-vāsiṭa), for then it connects you to a 'hidden relationship' (panhān rābiṭa). This is how we transcend the apparent world to grasp the intrinsic reality.

I firmly believe that Mowlana here alludes to a foundational mystical truth: the effect that manifests upon inanimate objects is 'borrowed' (āriya), meaning transient and impermanent. These external miracles are, in fact, for the 'happy, hidden soul' (rūḥ-i khush-i mutawāriyya); 'mutawāriyya' here signifies hidden, not fugitive, and Mowlana himself accurately corrects this common misinterpretation. That is, they are for those hidden souls yearning for awakening. The objective is that 'the heart takes effect from that inanimate object' (az ān jāmid asar gīrad ḍamīr), meaning that by witnessing the miracle's impact on an inert object, one's conscience and soul are affected and transformed.

Mowlana then introduces a magnificent and brilliant metaphor: 'Wondrous bread without the dough's matter' (ḥabbadhā nān bī-hayūlāy-i khamīr). 'Hayūlā' (hyle) in Greek and Islamic philosophy refers to prime matter or potentiality. Bread, naturally, requires dough; dough is the hyle of bread. However, divine miracles and the karāmāt of saints can produce 'bread without the dough's matter,' signifying an unconditional gift, requiring no prior potentiality, and given without expectation or obligation. This bread is a bestowal that is granted without any preceding groundwork or capacity from the recipient. It signifies boundless divine power and its immediacy, transcending natural laws.

Yet, this bestowal is not unconditionally beneficial. Mowlana emphasizes that 'the miracle is like the sea' (muʿjiza baḥr ast). For the 'water-bird' (murgh-i ābī), which is a swimmer, the sea is a haven and a habitat, 'safe from perdition' (āmin az halāk). But for the 'imperfect land-bird' (nāqiṣ murgh-i khāk), meaning the soul that is incomplete and belongs to the land, the sea can be a source of destruction. This echoes the Quranic verse, 'He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby' (yuḍillu bihi kathīran wa yahdī bihi kathīran). Miracles are likewise: 'They make every stranger's soul helpless, / But they empower the soul of the intimate' (ʿajz bakhsh jān har nā-maḥramī / līk qudrat-bakhsh jān hamdamī). For strangers and the unprepared, they bring helplessness and may even lead them to denial and misguidance. But for intimates and sympathizers, they empower the soul and open paths. This is the vital point that the acceptance of truth and the benefit from divine graces require spiritual readiness and capacity. The saints of God themselves are living examples of this inner miracle; within them 'a hundred ready resurrections exist' (ṣad qiyāmat naqd hast), and their least effect is that 'the neighbor becomes intoxicated' (hamsāya mast). Sitting with them is sitting with God.

Key takeaways

• External miracles (on inanimate objects) are merely a prelude to awakening and impacting the human conscience and soul, not an end in themselves.
• The true effect of a miracle lies in establishing a direct, hidden connection with the inner reality and the unseen world.
• A miracle can be like 'bread without the dough's matter,' an unconditional gift that requires no prior capacities or preconditions.
• The benefit and impact of a miracle are entirely dependent on the recipient's spiritual readiness and capacity; for the unprepared, it can lead to perdition.
• Divine saints are living miracles themselves; their presence transforms and awakens those around them, as within them 'a hundred ready resurrections exist.'