M1:430 — «کَيۡفَ مَدَّ ٱلظِّلَّ» نقشِ اولیاست / کو دلیل نورِ خورشیدِ خداست

Translation: «How He stretched the shadow?» is the role of the saints; For it is the proof of the light of God's Sun. Meaning: Drawing from a Quranic verse, this couplet explains the function of saints and mystics: their presence in the world is like a shadow, which serves as tangible evidence of the shining Sun of divine Truth.

This couplet is a gem from the Masnavi, where Mowlana, with a precise reference to the Holy Quran, elucidates the station of the divine saints (awliyā). The noble verse «Kayfa Mada al-Zill» (Quran 25:45) asks how God extends the shadow. Mowlana here replies that this extending of the shadow is the "role of the awliyā"; and he continues, that this very shadow "is the proof of the light of God's Sun."

This is a profound and deeply meaningful interpretation. The shadow is never the sun itself; but without the sun, no shadow would appear. The shadow is a sign of the sun's presence. The awliyā are manifestations and mirrors that show the invisible divine light in a visible and comprehensible way to us. They are not Truth itself, but their presence unequivocally points to the existence of the original source of light. If the divine Sun were not shining, the shadow of spiritual guidance (wilāyah) could not be cast upon the world.

This couplet immediately follows Mowlana's counsel: «Catch his skirt quickly, without doubt, so you may be saved in the skirt of the End of Time»; meaning, hold onto the skirts of these saints, for that is indeed the hem of salvation and guidance. He then warns: «Do not go into this valley without this proof / Say 'I love not those that set' like Khalil». That is, do not venture into the valley of Truth without this clear proof (this very shadow of the awliyā), and like Abraham, the Friend of God, turn away from all that sets and is unstable, declaring, "I love not those that set."

As I have said before, Abraham did not merely state that he does not believe in those that set, but that he does not love them. This is a crucial point: religion is nothing but love. "Is religion anything but love?" We worship a God who is worthy of love. A God worshipped merely out of fear, like a slave fears his master, is not the worship of free spirits. The divine awliyā, due to the manifestation of God's light within them, are examples of that eternal "lovable One" who does not set. They guide us towards the true Beloved, which is the everlasting divine light, always present and enduring, never to set. Their existence in this earthly realm is a testament to divine creativity and free will, attributes often overlooked. They reflect not only God's merciful and generous attributes but also manifest His agency and novelty in their conduct and spiritual journey.

Key takeaways

• Divine saints (awliyā) are shadows whose existence testifies to the presence and grandeur of the Sun of God's Truth.
• The key to divine knowledge is attachment to an eternal, imperishable Being; «Lā Uḥibbu al-Āfilīn» means not loving anything that is transient.
• The divine saints are clear proofs and essential guides for seekers on the spiritual path; without them, the way to truth cannot be traversed.
• These shadows are not the light itself, but without the light, no shadow appears; thus, their existence is a manifestation of divine light.
• True worship stems from love and affection for a Beloved who is worthy of love, not from fear or hope of reward.
• The awliyā also reflect often-overlooked divine attributes such as God's agency and creativity.