M6:2440 — با زمین هموار شد که از نهیب / گشت بالایش از آن هیبت نشیب

Translation: It was leveled with the ground, for from the dread / Its height became a slope from that awe. Meaning: The mountain, struck by an overwhelming divine dread and majesty, was made level with the earth, its towering height bowed down into a mere slope.

This verse unveils a profound scene from the Jewish traveler's dream, a deep spiritual experience that Rumi recounts with such intensity and detail, it is as though he is speaking of his own personal mystical encounters. We witness a similar narrative approach in the story of Daquqi in Book Three of the Mathnawi.

The core of this beyt lies in the divine 'haybat' and 'nehib' – the majesty and dread that, when manifested, shatters any imposing structure. The mountain, a symbol of earthly solidity and eminence, cannot withstand this divine presence. It is crucial to recall the Quranic verse: "When his Lord revealed Himself to the mountain, He made it crumble to dust, and Moses fell down senseless" (Quran 7:143). However, a precise point to note is that the Torah does not explicitly state the physical destruction of the mountain; rather, this dissolution could signify a vision and an internal experience of Moses, not necessarily a geographical event. Rumi, in this verse, depicts precisely this internalized image of the mountain's collapse.

This shattering is akin to the "heavy utterance" (qawl-e thaqil) mentioned in the Quran: "Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word" (Quran 73:5). It is as if God's speech and His manifestation are so weighty that they break down all resistance within any being. This 'nehib' not only levels the mountain but also brings down any pretension of height or false identity to a state of lowliness and equanimity with the earth. "Its height became a slope" – meaning, whatever seemed elevated now descends into absolute humility and annihilation.

This "leveling" of the mountain signifies not just destruction, but a transformation and an integration with the ground. The mountain loses its distinct identity and becomes one with the very fabric of existence. This metaphor transcends a mere natural event; it points to the mystical experience of fanā (annihilation) and the absorption of the seeker in divine lights. It is where the 'I' of the seeker becomes nothing before the 'He,' and the towering claims of the ego bow into absolute humility and lowliness. This dream narrative is a bridge Rumi constructs to guide the reader into the depths of formless experiences and the ultimate humbling before the Divine.

Key takeaways

• The manifestation of divine awe and majesty shatters every lofty structure, leveling it with the ground.
• The mountain's height bows into lowliness, symbolizing the annihilation of a distinct identity in the face of the Absolute.
• Rumi recounts this dream with profound detail, hinting at the experiential and visionary nature of such events.
• This verse echoes the Quran's 'heavy utterance' (qawl-e thaqil), illustrating the transformative power of revelation on existence.
• The leveling of the mountain depicts not mere destruction, but a metamorphosis and integration with the fabric of being.