M6:2861 — از الم نشرح دو چشمش سرمه یافت / دید آنچ جبرئیل آن بر نتافت

Translation: Through 'Alam Nashrah, his eyes received kohl; He saw what Gabriel could not endure.

Meaning: This verse alludes to the extraordinary vision of the Prophet, whose eyes were enlightened by the divine grace of Sūrat al-Inshirāḥ, enabling him to perceive realities that even the archangel Gabriel could not bear to witness.

This verse speaks to the singular and unparalleled vision of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Drawing upon Sūrat al-Inshirāḥ, where God speaks of expanding the Prophet's breast ("Have We not expanded for you your breast?"), Mawlana, in my interpretation, extends this expansion to the Prophet's eye. The metaphor of applying kohl to the eyes signifies enhanced sharpness of sight and spiritual insight. For me, this "expansion of the breast" is not merely about spiritual fortitude or the capacity to bear the burden of prophecy, but fundamentally includes an opening of spiritual vision and a profound deepening of the Prophet's gaze. His eyes were not just for perceiving the manifest world, but for apprehending hidden realities and esoteric truths, having received a divine kohl.

The crux of the verse lies in the second hemistich: "He saw what Gabriel could not endure." This is a direct reference to the Mir'aj (the Prophet's celestial ascent), where the Prophet, on his spiritual journey, reached Sidrat al-Muntaha (the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary) and asked Gabriel to accompany him further. However, Gabriel remained behind, stating that if he were to advance even a hair's breadth, "the radiance of theophany would burn my wings." Gabriel, himself among the most revered angels and God's "chosen ones," was unable to proceed at this stage, for he could not bear the intensity of the divine manifestations that the Prophet continued to witness beyond that limit. This signifies that the Prophet's vision operated beyond the capacity of even the highest celestial beings, such as Gabriel. Mawlana himself elaborates on this narrative extensively in Book Five of the Mathnawi.

This superhuman vision is also connected to the noble Quranic verse "The eye neither swerved nor exceeded the bounds" (Sūrat an-Najm, 53:17), which describes the Mir'aj. The Prophet's eye never deviated from truth, nor did it transgress its limits; rather, it perceived pure reality with precision and without error. This is the very essence of the "ma zāgh" (unwavering) quality of the eye that Mawlana frequently emphasizes. With this "ma zāgh" and "bi-gharaz" (disinterested, unbiased) eye, the Prophet perceived truths hidden from others. This vision transformed him into a true shāhid (witness) over the deeds and spiritual stations of humanity; he understood each person's spiritual rank and dwelling place. As Mawlana says: "He had insight into the stations of the servants / Therefore, God named him the Witness."

Thus, this verse not only highlights the grandeur of the Prophet's Mir'aj but also imbues it with an epistemological and insightful dimension. Through this divine kohl and encompassing vision, the Prophet attained a station to which others (even Gabriel) had no access; a station of unmediated and unveiled contemplation, which qualified him for intercession and the comprehension of the servants' spiritual stations.

Key takeaways

• The Prophet's vision, enhanced by the kohl of 'Alam Nashrah, transcended even Gabriel's capacity for perception.
• The Mir'aj and Gabriel's inability to proceed further symbolize the Prophet's unparalleled station of direct spiritual witnessing.
• The Prophet's gaze was of the nature of 'ma zāgh al-basar wa mā ṭaghā' (neither swerved nor transgressed), perceiving pure reality.
• This unique vision rendered him the 'Shāhid' (Witness) over the 'Maqāmāt al-'Ibād' (stations of the servants), aware of all hidden and manifest realities.
• Mawlana interprets 'sharḥ-e ṣadr' (expansion of the breast) as an opening of insight and vision, in addition to bearing responsibility.
• The Prophet's vision was 'bi-gharaz' (disinterested), reflecting truth fully without any attachment or impediment.