M6:4237 — خواب دید او هاتفی گفت ، او شنید / که غنای تو به مصر آید پدید

Translation: He saw in a dream that an invisible caller spoke, and he heard, / 'Your wealth will become manifest in Egypt.' Meaning: This verse describes a destitute man who, after praying for sustenance, receives an unseen message in a dream, directing him to Egypt where his fortune awaits.

This verse, from the story of the treasure-seeker, is not merely a narrative detail but carries a profound insight into the nature of answered prayers and the function of unseen guidance. The man, having squandered his entire inheritance, now in dire poverty, implores God for either 'sustenance or death.' Mowlana here highlights a crucial point: prayers are not always answered directly; sometimes, through delay or indirect means, a wisdom (ḥikmat) from behind the veil orchestrates the outcome.

In this context, the desperate man hears a call in his dream from a 'hātif.' The word 'hātif,' in Arabic culture and its pre-Islamic literary heritage, is rich with meaning. It signifies an 'invisible caller' or a voice from beyond the veil of the unseen (ghayb). Intriguingly, Arabs today use 'hātif' for a telephone, which itself attests to a deep-rooted concept of 'sound from afar' within their language. In ancient times, Arabs believed in mythological and imaginary beings such as ghouls, jinn, and hātifs. In the silent deserts, they would sometimes hear voices, attributing them to a 'hātif'—a voice from behind a curtain, as if speaking to them. Although the Quran speaks of jinn as real entities, it does not mention ghouls or hātifs. Nevertheless, the concept of the hātif persisted in Arabic literature and culture, even after Islam, as a 'divine call' or 'heartfelt inspiration,' retaining its semantic weight.

This unseen hātif informs the impoverished man that 'your wealth will become manifest in Egypt.' He is summoned to a journey from Baghdad to Egypt. This is not merely a geographical trip; the man's prayer is answered through an unseen voice, and he must endure the hardships of travel to find a 'great treasure' (ganj-i zaft). Mowlana also notes that God has 'accepted your begging' (kard kadīyat rā qabūl). He is the 'one to whom hope returns' (murtaJā), meaning the source of hope for His servants.

Egypt, in this narrative, is not just a geographical location but, due to its historical fame as the 'source of sugar' (manbatgāh-i qand), it symbolizes a fertile land of abundance and sweetness. Verses from Hafez and Mowlana himself refer to 'Egyptian sugar' (qand-i Mesri) and its blessings. This choice of destination suggests that the ultimate goal of this journey is a land overflowing with bounty and favors. Despite spending his meager remaining funds on the journey and even resorting to clandestine begging at night, the man maintains hope in the hātif's unseen promise. This verse teaches us that divine destiny sometimes unfolds through unexpected and hidden paths, and even in the depths of despair, a voice from the unseen can illuminate the way.

Key takeaways

• Prayers are not always answered directly; divine wisdom often works through unseen, indirect means.
• The 'hātif' symbolizes an inner voice, heartfelt inspiration, or unseen guidance that emerges in difficult moments.
• The journey to Egypt, though ostensibly for material treasure, is the beginning of an inner spiritual quest and a divine trial.
• Divine destiny sometimes reveals the path through hidden and unexpected ways, even through dreams.
• Egypt and 'Egyptian sugar' symbolize abundance and a blessed land, promising success and the sweetness of life.