M6:2105 — گر نبودی او نیابیدی زمین / در درونه گنج و بیرون یاسمین

Translation: Were it not for him, the earth would not have found / Within itself treasure, and outside jasmine. Meaning: This verse articulates that every material goodness and beauty in the world, from the hidden treasures within the earth to the fragrant jasmines blooming upon it, owes its existence and continuity to the blessing and presence of God's holy friends, the men of God.

In this verse, and the ones preceding it, Mawlana introduces a pivotal and deeply significant idea: the central and vital role of God's saints, the awliyāʾ Allāh, in the very fabric of existence. I contend that Mawlana here is unveiling a hidden reality that many of us struggle to grasp: that this world, with all its beauties and blessings, stands firm by virtue of the presence of the men of Truth.

This insight is rooted in the renowned ḥadīth qudsī, "Lawlāka lamā khalaqtu al-aflāk" (Were it not for you, I would not have created the heavens), spoken by God to the Prophet Muhammad. Sufi mystics have extended this concept not merely to the Prophet himself, but to all the divine saints, owing to the unity of their souls. Mawlana, undoubtedly, views it from this very perspective. In earlier verses, he states that the heavens are slaves to the moon of that saint, and East and West are all nourished by him. He then adds that without him, the celestial spheres would neither revolve nor emit light, spring would not arrive, and the seas, fish, and royal pearls would not come into being. This verse continues that same thread of thought: the earth itself, which harbors treasures and sprouts jasmines, would not have found this wealth and beauty were it not for 'him.'

I have previously noted that phrases like "Bi-minnihi ruziq al-warā" (Through his blessing, creation is sustained) in the Ziyārat Jāmiʿa directly refer to this truth. That is to say, the material and spiritual sustenance of all beings reaches them from the table of the awliyāʾ Allāh. These men of Truth are the axis of existence, the very soul of the cosmos. In other words, they are not merely great individuals who have attained self-purification, but the pillars of heaven and earth; existence is indebted to their being.

This understanding of the world fundamentally transforms our perspective. What we outwardly perceive as treasure and jasmine has a hidden root in the unseen realm and in the being of these saints. Outwardly, we give them charity and alms, but in reality, they are our "givers of alms," and all our gold, silk, and possessions derive from their 'poverty' (or rather, their spiritual richness). Mawlana here points to the "inversion of affairs" or the "upside-down nature of the world"; meaning, the apparent world conceals its inner truth. The truth is that we are sustained by their bounty, and through them, divine blessings descend upon us. Treasure and jasmine are but manifestations of this expansive sustenance, which the earth would never have found "were it not for him."

Key takeaways

• The existence of God's saints (awliyāʾ) is the primary cause for the creation of the world and the continuity of its blessings.
• All treasures and natural beauties of the earth manifest due to the grace and presence of the men of Truth.
• The men of Truth are not merely spiritual guides, but the axis of existence and the very reason for the cosmos's being.
• This verse is an instance of the gnostic "Lawlāka" perspective, extended to all saints.
• The outward humility of the saints is the hidden source of sustenance and richness for all beings.