M6:3025 — ساحران واقف از دست خدا / کی نهند این دست و پا را دست و پا

Translation: Magicians, once aware of God's hand, / How would they then care for these very limbs, their hands and feet? Meaning: Upon recognizing God's supreme power, the magicians became utterly detached from their physical bodies and worldly possessions, no longer valuing or fearing for their loss.

This verse, without a doubt, alludes to the famous story of Pharaoh's magicians who surrendered before the miracle of Moses (peace be upon him). These were magicians who had spent their entire lives relying on their own 'hands and feet'—that is, on their skill and craftsmanship—and took pride in their own power. Suddenly, they encountered the 'Hand of God,' a hand that nullified their magic and revealed a truth far beyond their sleights of hand. Pharaoh, enraged by their submission, threatened to cut off their hands and feet and crucify them, as mentioned in the Quran: 'I will surely crucify you on the trunks of palm trees.' Yet, the magicians' response was profound and astonishing: 'No harm; we are returning to our Lord.' Rumi here points precisely to this truth. When someone becomes 'aware of God's hand,' meaning they realize that a hand beyond all hands is at work and that there is a power superior to all human powers, how could they then 'care for these hands and feet'—their physical existence and worldly attachments? 'Caring for one's hands and feet' here implies attaching importance to them, striving to preserve them, or having affection for them. For the one who has apprehended the truth, these limbs no longer hold any value; let them be cut off, let them perish, for their destination lies beyond this earthly body. This is the zenith of liberation from material concerns and fearlessness in the face of death, achievable only through true gnosis of the eternal divine power.

Key takeaways

• Recognizing God's absolute power liberates one from worldly fears.
• Apprehension of truth devalues physical and material attachments.
• Faith in returning to God is the source of fearlessness against any threat.
• Human magic and power are insignificant before divine miracles.
• True liberation lies in indifference to bodily survival through deep gnosis.