M6:1296 — کز یمینست او وزان یا از شمال / جنبش برگت بگوید وصف حال

Translation: Whether it blows from the right or from the north, The leaf's tremor will tell you its state.

Meaning: This verse offers a tangible example of how one can deduce the presence and direction of a hidden phenomenon from observable, sensible events. The movement of leaves serves as the visible witness to the invisible blowing of the wind.

This verse, from the profound mind of Mawlana, offers a remarkably clear and articulate proof for a fundamental epistemological principle: how we can move from the visible world (ʿālam-e shahādat), from what is present and perceived, to the unseen world (ʿālam-e ghayb), to what is hidden and veiled. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most foundational mystical teachings reiterated throughout the Masnavi.

I present this example of the wind and the leaf in the context of Mawlana's story about the invalid whom the physician had given up on. In that narrative, to ascertain the condition of the 'heart' (and by 'heart' Mawlana here means the soul and the holistic spirit, not merely the physical heart), the physician observes the patient's pulse. The pulse, though a physical manifestation, is a sign of that hidden truth of the 'soul'. Mawlana states: "For the pulse of the hand is connected to the heart." Thus, from the palpable pulse, one can infer the state of the impalpable heart.

This verse teaches us the same pattern with another example: the wind is an invisible phenomenon. We cannot see the wind itself; yet, how do we perceive its presence and direction? Unquestionably, through the movement of leaves. When leaves tremble or move in a specific direction, we understand that wind is blowing, and from the direction and intensity of their movement, we can even deduce the wind's orientation. The leaves are the witnesses to the unseen wind.

This method of inferring from the sensible to the intelligible, from the witnessed to the hidden, is universal in mysticism and for Mawlana. He continues this discussion by offering another example: "If you do not know the intoxication of the heart, / Seek its description from the languid narcissus (eye)." This means we cannot directly see someone's inner intoxication, but from their heavy-lidded eyes, their 'languid narcissus,' we can infer their hidden state of drunkenness.

Where does Mawlana's ultimate inference lead? To the knowledge of God Almighty and His saints. If we are distant from God's essence, and He is hidden, how can we describe Him or find a path to Him? Mawlana answers: "Since you are far from God's Essence, / You will come to know His description from the Prophet and his miracles." That is, through the Messengers and their evident miracles, we infer the hidden attributes and essence of God. And if we have not witnessed the Messengers, we can still deduce the unseen from the saints of God and their subtle wonders (karāmāt-e khafī), the least of which is the intoxication, warmth, and tranquility transmitted to us through their companionship. Within the saints, "a hundred resurrections are present and real," whose effect manifests upon those around them, much like a beautiful fragrance emanating from a hidden perfume, perfuming the air.

Therefore, this verse is not merely a simple description of nature, but a profound lesson in mystical epistemology. It teaches us that the entire cosmos is a sign, and every phenomenon is evidence of the hidden reality concealed behind it. We need only open the eye of insight and read these signs.

Key takeaways

• Mawlana's epistemology is rooted in inferring the unseen from the seen, the hidden from the manifest.
• Every observable phenomenon in the world serves as a sign for understanding hidden truths, just as leaves indicate the wind.
• This inferential method applies not only to natural phenomena but also to understanding the state of the soul and spirit (pulse for the heart, languid eyes for intoxication).
• The ultimate goal of this mode of cognition is to grasp the hidden essence of God and to understand saints and prophets through their effects and miracles.
• The universe is replete with signs, and for those with insight, nothing remains veiled.