M6:1742 — آنک شد موجود از وی هر عدم / گر بدارد باقیش او را چه کم

Translation: He, from whom every non-existence became existence, / If He were to sustain its permanence, what would diminish Him? Meaning: The Sufi questions God's design: since God is the one who brings all being from non-being, why does He not preserve existence from decay and mortality? What loss would this cause to His dominion?

This verse, uttered by the Sufi in a questioning and protesting tone, challenges divine wisdom. In my view, this Sufi represents the ordinary human being who laments the suffering, transience, and decay inherent in the world. He asks: God, whose infinite power has transformed every non-existence into existence, meaning He is the absolute Creator—why does He not preserve these created beings from death, annihilation, and loss? What harm would it cause to His dominion and sovereignty if He were to sustain this world as eternal and permanent?

The Sufi's question here has deep roots in what I consider the greatest evils and calamities of this world, chief among them being the pain of death. Humans fear their own demise and that of their loved ones; this is an eternal preoccupation, deeply embedded in our consciousness, to the extent that many worldly amusements are merely a means to forget it. This fear of death, from an evolutionary perspective, is crucial for the survival of the species. Yet it is not merely death; it is also the constant losses: loss of capital, friends, honor, health. The Quran states: "Indeed, mankind is in loss" ("Inna al-insana lafi khusr"); humanity is perpetually experiencing detriment. Our lives are like snow melting under a scorching summer sun; we are constantly losing: time, energy, youth.

By posing this question, the Sufi longs for a world free of suffering, transience, illness, and loss. He seems to yearn for an angelic realm, akin to the "Divine Presence" ("Bārgāh-e Qods") where sorrow has no place, and evil and decay cannot enter. He queries why God did not create this world in such a way that humans remain immortal, attain their goals without effort, and life always unfolds in spring and joy. He wishes for us to be "angels"; a world where nothing changes and everything remains as it is. This protest, in essence, reflects an innate human yearning for eternal survival and peace, seeking an answer within the wisdom of creation.

Key takeaways

• The verse represents the Sufi's (symbolizing the ordinary human) questioning of divine wisdom regarding suffering and transience.
• The Sufi argues that an omnipotent God should logically protect the world from death and loss.
• This query is rooted in the profound pain of mortality and all forms of loss and decay in the world.
• Essentially, the Sufi longs for a flawless world, akin to the angelic realm, free from change, illness, and suffering.
• This complaint reflects humanity's innate yearning for eternal survival and peace.
• Mowlana frames these protests as part of a living dialogue with the people of his time.