M6:2178 — چون عصا را مار کرد آن چست‌دست / گر ترا عقلیست آن نکته بس است

Translation: When that swift-handed one made the staff a snake, If you possess intellect, that point is enough. Meaning: Mawlana asserts that the miracle of Moses transforming his staff into a snake serves as a singular, sufficient lesson for anyone with intellect to grasp the immense possibilities of transformation, both in the cosmos and within oneself.

Undoubtedly, Mawlana in this verse refers to the renowned miracle of Prophet Moses; that instant when, by divine command, the wooden staff in his hand was transformed into a fearsome serpent. This is Moses, the "swift-handed one" (chost-dast), who in a flash alters the fundamental reality of an object. Yet, Mawlana's message transcends merely recounting a historical or religious event. He states: "If you possess intellect, that point is enough" (gar torā aqli'st, ān nokteh bas ast). It is here that the profound depth of his discourse unfolds. If an individual possesses an active and dynamic intellect—not merely a calculating or pragmatic mind—this single instance suffices to instill belief in the possibility of fundamental transformations and metamorphoses within the cosmos.

This "point" is an invitation to deep contemplation (am'an-e nazar), to profound insight that pierces beyond surface appearances. Many might hear of such an event and dismiss it casually, or consider it merely an anomaly. But for one with true intellect (aqli'st), it stands as a clear sign; an indication that nature's seemingly rigid and fixed laws can, in an instant, by a superior will, be overturned. This belief in the possibility of transformation is not confined to the external world but extends to the human being. If a staff can become a snake, then a withered heart can be revived, cold iron can be softened, and a sleeping soul can awaken.

Mawlana, in this very vein, seeks to deter the audience from "beating cold iron"—from engaging in futile endeavors or deeming impossible what is indeed possible. He wishes to convey that if a miracle is conceivable in the world, then the path to spiritual metamorphosis and ascension is also open. "That point is enough" means this one experience, one observation, one narrative of absolute power, is sufficient to shatter the fortresses of doubt and skepticism. This belief, in itself, is a step towards liberation from sophistry and skepticism regarding the truths of existence, which constantly "removes the intellect from its throne" and "deprives" humanity of being. Understanding this nokteh is the beginning of a journey to find the life-giving Esrafil and the warming flowing Sun (khorshid-e ravan), so that dead souls and sorrowful hearts may find new life. This insight elevates human beings beyond being merely a "single qolla"—a small vessel susceptible to impurity—and brings them to the Karr sea of purity; a place where, as Mawlana says, "What concern has the pure soul with the sea, or the sea with carrion?"

Key takeaways

• Moses's miracle symbolizes the possibility of fundamental transformations in both existence and the human self.
• An active intellect, by grasping a single key 'point,' can comprehend the boundless possibilities of existence.
• The verse calls for deep contemplation, moving beyond appearances to understand divine transformative power.
• One must liberate oneself from skepticism and sophistry that deny the possibility of profound change.
• This belief in transformation opens the path to freedom from stagnation and the discovery of inner life and warmth.