M6:2285 — کوه با وحشت در آن ابر ظلم / بر گشاید بانگ چنگ و زیر و بم

Translation: The mountain, amidst that terrifying cloud of darkness, / Unfurls the sound of the harp, its low and high notes. Meaning: This verse speaks to God's boundless power, illustrating how even dreadful mountains in profound darkness resonate with Prophet David's song, drawing forth harmonious melodies from their depths.

Here, we encounter a verse that beautifully illustrates the transformative power of divine mercy. Mawlana, in a series of parables demonstrating how God draws perfection from apparent opposites, arrives at the story of Prophet David (peace be upon him) and the mountains. This is a Quranic theme, where mountains and birds are depicted as harmonizing with David: «Ya Dawud, awwib...» – meaning, 'O David, return (and sing, and lament).'

Consider the scene: it is a dark night, and a 'cloud of darkness' covers the sky. The mountains are inherently 'terrifying' and awe-inspiring. These are all symbols of the difficult, dark, and fearful situations we encounter in life. Yet, the crucial point is that it is precisely within this 'cloud of darkness' and from these 'terrifying mountains' that God evokes melody. 'Unfurls the sound of the harp, its low and high notes' – meaning, from what seemed terrifying, silent, and inanimate, the music of life and harmony suddenly arises.

I see this as another instance of Mawlana's perspective that 'the world's forms are but sea foam.' The outward appearances of the world may seem dark and fearful, but in their depth lies a subtle and musical essence. This musical response from the mountains is not merely an echo of David's voice; rather, the mountains themselves, in response to David's spiritual and divine breath, begin to dance and sing. This is precisely the 'naturalization of the transcendent' that I discussed earlier concerning the reed; the divine breath passes through the channel of the mountain, taking on its hue, yet scattering sweet melodies.

This verse is further proof that God has 'exploded hundreds of springs of affection' and 'transformed disbelief into penitence.' Even from hardness and darkness, love and repentance emerge. God brings forth a bud from a thorn; extracts a charm from a snake; creates bright day from the dark night; and cultivates abundance from destitution. All these bear witness to the boundless generosity of the Divine. Thus, even the terrified mountain, in that absolute darkness, is not deprived of divine mercy, and in response to David's song, it unfurls the sound of the harp and its beautiful high and low notes. This demonstrates that no place is empty of divine mercy, and no deadlock is without an opening; it only requires the resonance of divine truth within it.

Key takeaways

• God's boundless capacity to create beauty and harmony from absolute terror and darkness.
• Nature's (the mountain's) resonance and response to the spiritual and prophetic voice, manifesting divine wilāyat (spiritual authority).
• The transformation of opposites (darkness to light, silence to melody) by divine power, a sign of God's all-encompassing mercy.
• No situation, however dark or fearful, is outside the sphere of divine mercy and the possibility of spiritual transformation.