M6:356 — گرچه بر آتش‌زنهٔ دل می‌زند / آن ستاره‌ش را کف حق می‌کشد

Translation: Though one strikes the flintstone of the heart, / The Hand of God extinguishes that very spark. Meaning: This verse speaks to the lack of inner resolve and sincerity; when a person tries to ignite a spiritual spark within their heart, God's hand extinguishes it due to an inner impurity or defect.

Mowlana, in this profound verse, paints a vivid picture of humanity's inner struggle. Humans strive to ignite a spark of faith or gnosis within themselves by striking the "flintstone of the heart," which represents their resolve and will. Yet, this "star" (the transient spark) is suddenly extinguished. Mowlana explicitly states that "the Hand of God extinguishes that very spark." This is not to say that the fire dies on its own or the wick is damp; rather, a hidden and potent hand snuffs it out. But what is meant by this "Hand of God"? Does God oppose a believer's sincere efforts? Assuredly not. This refers to a deeper existential law.

Mowlana clarifies this by drawing on the delightful allegory of a thief in the dark. A man, in the pitch-black night, strikes flintstones to create a spark, hoping to illuminate his surroundings and spot a thief. However, the thief, hidden in the darkness, places his finger on each spark as it ignites, extinguishing it. The poor man presumes the spark dies on its own or that his wick is faulty, failing to see the thief's active role in snuffing it out.

Our inner world operates similarly. Whenever a spark of sincerity, firm resolve, or repentance arises in our heart, a hidden "thief" within the darkness of our soul extinguishes it. Who is this thief? Mowlana unequivocally states it is the "stranger" (bigāne). A person who "lacks resolve" (ahl-e ʿazm nīst) and "has not sown the seed of sincerity" (takhme ṣidq nakāshte) is, in reality, ensnared by an impure, mixed self—a self "full of strangers." We often assume it is we who have willed, repented, or chosen a path, but this "stranger" (which could be our earthly body or our egoistic desires) lies in wait, rendering every effort futile. As Mowlana says: "O father, you have lost your battle, / You have not distinguished others from yourself." Man mistakes himself for another, taking the stranger for his true self.

It is here that the "Hand of God" appears, in the act of extinguishing this spark. Due to our lack of complete sincerity and purity in our resolve, and the presence of this "stranger" in the heart's abode, God does not allow that spark to become a lasting flame. This is not punishment, but a natural consequence of our inner state; until this thief is expelled, and the heart purified of all but our "true self," no light will settle within. This is the very essence of divine justice and wisdom, echoing the Quranic account of Adam (PBUH): "And We had certainly covenanted with Adam before, but he forgot, and We did not find in him a firm resolve" (Q. 20:115)—even a prophet can suffer from forgetfulness and weak resolve if the "seed of sincerity" is not fully planted in their soul. This verse is a call to deep introspection and to cleanse the heart's house of everything that is not our "true self."

Key takeaways

• Lack of sincerity and weak resolve prevent spiritual and faithful sparks from enduring in the heart.
• A "stranger" within us, like a hidden thief, extinguishes divine sparks.
• The extinguishing of these sparks by the "Hand of God" is not punishment, but a natural consequence of internal insincerity and disunity.
• Humans often mistake their true self for the "stranger" (ego, body, worldly desires), which is an "alienation from self."
• The verse is an invitation to inner purification and the expulsion of the "stranger" from the heart's abode to achieve lasting light.