M6:2174 — تو دو قله نیستی یک قله‌ای / غافل از قصهٔ عذاب ظله‌ای

Translation: You are not two qullah (jars), but one qullah; heedless of the tale of the torment of dhilla (abjection).

Meaning: Do not imagine yourself immune to defilement, for you are not like the 'karr' water that remains pure. Be mindful of divine wrath and the consequences of heedlessness.

This verse is an unequivocal warning to all human beings, an invitation to humility regarding our inherent susceptibility to defilement and error. Mowlana employs an analogy drawn from Sunni jurisprudence, which defines karr water (water that does not become impure upon contact with impurity) as possessing the volume of two qullah (jars). He declares that we, as ordinary humans, are not 'two qullah'; rather, we are merely 'one qullah.' This means our souls, unlike those of the great masters and mystics whom Mowlana elsewhere compares to the ocean, stating, 'What concern has the ocean for a carcass?', are prone to impurity and defilement. We are, in essence, 'less than two qullah,' akin to a small volume of water that becomes impure with the slightest contact with defiling elements. Therefore, we must never harbor absolute certainty in our purity or infallibility, nor presume immunity from error and moral stain. This misplaced confidence is itself a profound form of heedlessness.

The second part of the verse connects this heedlessness to the 'tale of the torment of dhilla.' 'Adhāb-i Dhilla,' or 'Yawm al-Dhilla' (The Day of Abjection), is a Quranic event that befell the people of Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) in Midian. Due to their disobedience and unbelief, the people of Shu'ayb were afflicted by the 'torment of the overshadowing cloud' (ʻadhāb-i ẓulla); a cloud appeared above them, not bringing the mercy of rain, but rather devastating thunderbolts that annihilated them. Commentaries mention that God even commanded walls and houses to provide no shade, forcing the people to die in intense heat and suffering. This narrative symbolizes divine wrath, illustrating how blessings can be transmuted into curses. Bread, which sustains life, can become a chokehold; clothing, which protects from cold, can acquire the temperament of freezing winter. If a person remains heedless of this divine power and presumes themselves immune to defilement and punishment, they will, in that very heedlessness, be caught in a torment of abjection and humiliation. This verse reminds us that humanity must always remain in a state of servitude and humility, avoiding pride and self-admiration. Our fate is not like the karr water of the masters, which no impurity can affect. Humanity is perpetually tested, and its good or ill destiny hinges on its actions and awareness.

Key takeaways

• Ordinary humans, unlike mystics, are vulnerable to impurity and error and should avoid spiritual hubris.
• Overconfidence in one's inherent purity or infallibility is itself a form of heedlessness and error.
• Divine blessings can transform into instruments of torment in the face of wrath and disobedience.
• The 'torment of dhilla' of Shu'ayb's people serves as a Quranic warning about the consequences of heedlessness and unbelief.
• Humility and awareness of one's fallibility are essential for spiritual progress and avoiding divine wrath.