M6:2823 — گفت یک خاصیتم در بازو است / که زنم من نقبها با زور دست

Translation: One said, 'I have a special quality in my arm, / that I make tunnels with the strength of my hand.' Meaning: This verse introduces a thief boasting about his extraordinary physical strength, specifically his ability to dig tunnels using only the power of his hands.

This verse, from the stirring tale of 'The King and the Night Thieves' in Book Six of the Mathnawi, plunges us into an allegory of God’s hidden presence in the world. A thief among the company boasts of his particular trait or 'culture' (farhang). His skill is physical and material: the ability to dig 'tunnels' (naghb-hā) with the brute force of his arm. In this gathering of thieves, each possessing a unique aptitude — one with keen ears to understand the barking of dogs, another with sharp eyes to recognize faces in the night's darkness, and yet another with a nose that can detect the scent of gold and treasure beneath the earth — this thief represents a type of human power that arises from sheer physical strength and material effort.

I have often stated that the 'night' in this story is an allegory for this fleeting world in which we live. A world where God, like the disguised king among the thieves, is present but 'hidden.' Our actions, whether theft or worship, do not escape His gaze, even if we ourselves are oblivious to His presence. This thief, who digs tunnels with his arm's strength, represents those human activities performed with pure physical capability; an earthly and material task, yet under the hidden surveillance of the true King.

The significance of this verse lies in its broader context within the story: this skill of 'hand strength' is set against more subtle sensory skills (eyes, ears, nose) and ultimately contrasts with the 'art' of the King, who, by merely shaking his beard, can transform a death sentence into a pardon. This demonstrates how Rumi, through a seemingly simple allegory, portrays the hierarchy of powers: from the muscular strength of thieves to the supernatural powers of God's saints, and finally to the boundless and absolute power of God. This particular verse marks the initial point in this vast spectrum of manifestations of power and ability, both in the physical cosmos and the realm of meaning.

Key takeaways

• This verse symbolizes human physical and material strength within the narrative of 'The King and the Night Thieves'.
• The skill of 'hand strength' is contrasted with more subtle sensory powers and ultimately, the absolute divine power.
• The tale of the night thieves serves as an allegory for God's hidden presence in the world and His observation of human actions.
• Every 'skill' or 'art', whether material or spiritual, is revealed in the divine presence.