M6:2658 — چه عجب که مرغ گردد مست او / هم شنود آهن ندای دست او

Translation: What wonder if the bird becomes drunk by him, / When even iron hears the call of his hand. Meaning: This verse highlights the astonishing power of a prophet like David, whose influence is so profound that not only do birds become entranced by his voice, but even inanimate objects like iron obey the command of his hand, symbolizing deep spiritual sway over the material world.

Mowlana, in this verse, alludes to the extraordinary power of Prophet David, a figure referenced in both the Quran and other traditions. David possessed two remarkable attributes: a melodious voice that resonated through mountains, compelling even birds to silence and harmony, and the ability to soften iron with his bare hands. Mowlana begins by asking: What wonder is it if birds become intoxicated by David's song? This phenomenon is perfectly understandable, as joy and ecstasy permeate nature, and living beings respond to enchanting calls.

However, the deeper and, to my mind, more crucial point is that even inanimate iron 'hears the call of his hand' and softens at his command. This phrase, 'the call of his hand,' is a metaphorical reference to a form of communication that transcends verbal language; a language in which David's hand, as it were, spoke to the iron, issuing the command 'soften,' and the iron obeyed. This is precisely the 'language of nature' that every being understands and responds to in its own way.

I have said before that speaking is not always verbal. Nature, too, possesses its own unique language. When you break open the soil, you are, in essence, telling it to release water. This is a form of dialogue that necessitates an understanding of hidden languages. This is why one of humanity's greatest discoveries, since the time of Galileo, has been the realization that nature is written in the language of mathematics. We must learn mathematics to comprehend and 'speak' the language of nature. This verse of Mowlana, in essence, unveils this very truth: that the cosmos is replete with communications and responses that we can only grasp by opening the ear of the soul and understanding non-verbal languages. Prophet David, here, symbolizes a human being who is master of these languages and can communicate with and influence all beings, from the singing bird to the rigid iron.

Key takeaways

• Prophet David's miraculous power symbolizes the perfect human's influence over the natural world.
• The intoxication of birds by David's voice signifies the living world's responsiveness to spiritual calls.
• Iron hearing the 'call of his hand' reveals the hidden language of nature and communication beyond literal words.
• Speaking is not always verbal; the universe is full of non-verbal communications.
• Understanding nature's language is possible through both mystical intuition and scientific discovery (e.g., Galilean mathematics).