M1:733 — بود در انجیل نام مُصطفی / آن سَر پیغامبران بحرِ صفا

This beyt opens a section of the Masnavi where Rumi illustrates the spiritual power and protective grace associated with the Prophet Muhammad's name. The story recounts how certain Christians, upon encountering the name of Muhammad in their Gospel, would show it reverence, kissing the name and bowing before its description. Rumi emphasizes that these individuals, by honoring the Prophet's name, were kept safe from the many tribulations and corruptions of their time, including the tyranny of rulers and ministers. Their lineage also prospered, imbued with the 'light of Ahmad' (another name for Muhammad). In stark contrast, other Christians who disdained the Prophet's name faced ruin and misfortune. The beyt thus highlights the idea that spiritual truth transcends religious boundaries, and that recognition and reverence for divine messengers, even across different faiths, can bring blessings and protection. Rumi is not making a historical claim about the literal text of the Gospel, but rather a theological and mystical point about the omnipresence of divine light and the spiritual efficacy of acknowledging it, regardless of the specific religious tradition.