M6:4350 — ساحران آورده حاضر نیک و بد / تا که جرح معجزهٔ موسی کند

Translation: The sorcerers brought forth all forms of good and evil, So that they might wound Moses's miracle. Meaning: This verse describes how Pharaoh's sorcerers, by showcasing all their tricks and illusions, intended to discredit Moses's miracle. However, their very actions inadvertently paved the way for the ultimate manifestation of Moses's divine power.

This verse, from Rumi's perspective, unveils a profound theological and existential point: how the evil and ill intent of humans can inadvertently serve the good and divine will. The sorcerers, in the story of Moses and Pharaoh, entered the arena with all their cunning and abilities; they presented the "good and evil" of their magic—meaning both their dazzling, deceptive displays and the inherently corrupt, baseless nature of their sorcery. Their explicit goal was "to wound Moses's miracle," to discredit and undermine the prophetic grace of Moses. Yet, Rumi, with his penetrating insight, demonstrates that this reprehensible effort achieved precisely the opposite. Here, the concept of God's "hidden grace" (luṭf-i khafī) becomes evident; a grace concealed behind the veil of wrath and satanic endeavors. By their denial and hostility, the sorcerers unwittingly brought about the "manifestation of miracles." Had their denial not existed, there would have been no need for proof and miracles. These enmities and the intent to "discredit the trustworthy" (God's trusted servants) and "humiliate religion" ultimately led to the "honor of the Prophets" and an unparalleled revelation of divine power. This is a fundamental principle in Rumi's view: that errors and deviations sometimes become the "path of faith" (manhaj-i īmān) and the "harvest of grace" (maḥṣad-i iḥsān). It is like an antidote (tiryāq) hidden within the poison itself; "Within the poison, that Benevolent One placed the antidote / So they may call Him 'Possessor of Hidden Grace.'" This does not mean that sin or ill intent should be praised, but rather it emphasizes that God, through His transcendent will, can guide towards good even from acts of evil. It is as if the scene of Moses's confrontation with the sorcerers was merely a prelude for the Prophet's truth and God's boundless power to be revealed to all with even greater brilliance. This is not a deterministic view, but rather a demonstration that divine compulsion can open another path from within human free will.

Key takeaways

• The ill intent of the sorcerers to discredit Moses's miracle inadvertently became the very cause of its manifestation and affirmation.
• Rumi elucidates the concept of divine "hidden grace" (luṭf-i khafī), illustrating how evil and malicious intentions can unknowingly serve the good and divine will.
• Enmity and denial can sometimes pave the way for proof and miracles, as without denial, there would be no need for substantiation.
• This verse demonstrates how God, even through misguidance and crookedness, opens a path towards faith and beneficence.
• As Rumi suggests, the antidote (tiryāq) is sometimes hidden within the poison itself, meaning salvation can emerge from the least expected places.