M6:4353 — لشکر آرد او پگه تا حول نیل / تا زند بر موسی و قومش سبیل

Translation: He [Pharaoh] brings an army at dawn towards the vicinity of the Nile / So that he may block the path for Moses and his people. Meaning: This verse describes Pharaoh's intent to lead his army to the banks of the Nile to cut off the path of Moses and the Children of Israel, seemingly a plot for their annihilation.

This verse is one of the Masnavi's brilliant parables, illustrating the profound wisdom of divine grace and lotf-e khafi (hidden subtlety). Pharaoh, with his army, sets out towards the Nile with the intention of humiliating Moses and his people. Yet, Rumi teaches us that within this outward display of wrath, a hidden grace resides. This is the divine secret, as if an antidote (tiryāq) is placed within the poison, and a path to guidance is opened within error.

Pharaoh's intent was to block the way and annihilate, but the outcome of his actions proved to be precisely the opposite. This not only became a means for Moses's salvation but also led to the manifestation of a grand miracle—the parting of the Nile and the drowning of Pharaoh's army. Here, the Quranic verse "And they schemed, and God schemed, and God is the best of schemers" finds its full expression. Enemies devise plots, but God has a different plan, one that transcends our ordinary comprehension. It is here that we see how sometimes, as Rumi suggests, errors themselves become "preludes to guidance." This error and evil intent of Pharaoh ultimately served as a means for the growth and benefit of the believers.

This is a great lesson for spiritual seekers: no righteous person should deem themselves safe from divine subtlety, and no wrongdoer should despair of His mercy. Even at the highest spiritual stations, a slip is possible, and within the darkest sins, there is hope for forgiveness and a spiritual leap. This is the honor that God sometimes places within sin, as it is narrated that if you do not sin, you may fall prey to self-admiration. In this story, Pharaoh's intention to humiliate the believers led to the manifestation of miracles and their exaltation. Here, the Almighty unveils His "hidden graces," demonstrating how He can conceal rewards and openings within the heart of a terrible calamity. This is one of the secrets of existence that calls humanity to surrender to divine, sagacious planning and warns against superficial judgments about good and evil.

Key takeaways

• Divine Hidden Grace (Lotf-e Khafi): God's subtle graces manifest even amidst enemies' gravest evil intentions.
• Error as Prelude to Guidance: Sometimes, mistaken paths or others' ill intentions, by divine grace, lead to guidance and salvation.
• Divine Subtlety: God is the "best of schemers," turning enemies' plots to the advantage of believers.
• No Absolute Security or Despair: No one is entirely safe from divine subtlety, not even the righteous; nor should anyone despair of His mercy, not even wrongdoers.
• Miracles for Subduing Enemies: The primary purpose of miracles is often to suppress and defeat enemies, which consequently affirms prophethood.