M6:1287 — که ز سایهٔ یوسف صاحب‌قران / شد زلیخای عجوز از سر جوان

Translation: For by the shadow of Joseph, the possessor of conjunction (ṣāḥeb-qerān), Zulaikha, though an old woman (ʿajūz), became young anew from head to foot. Meaning: This verse refers to the miraculous transformation of Zulaikha from old age to youth, symbolizing the profound power of love and spiritual attraction to completely rejuvenate the human soul.

This verse, following immediately upon the call to "polish your chest for a few days," vividly illustrates a profound existential truth that Mevlana seeks to convey: miraculous inner transformation. The tale of Zulaikha, an old, blind, and withered woman, who is rejuvenated and regains her sight by merely the shadow or aura of Joseph, is not for me a simple historical narrative. Rather, it is a living allegory of the miraculous power of divine love and attraction.

Joseph here symbolizes divine grace or a perfected spiritual guide, whose very presence, without any preconditions or expectations, can renew the old and revive the dead. This is a message of profound hope; a message that assures us winter does not last forever, and even the most ancient and worn-out souls possess the capacity for renewal and a second youth.

Mevlana subtly reinforces this transformation with other analogous images: just as the scorching summer sun (خورشید تموز) can melt away the chill and ice of late winter (برد العجوز), or as in the story of Maryam, a dry date palm, by a mere touch, transforms into a lush tree laden with fresh dates – so too can the old Zulaikha become young again. These examples collectively illustrate that in the face of genuine thirst and longing for change, the Divine, without any preconditions or regard for apparent merit, orchestrates miracles.

This transformation, as Mevlana states, is a response to the awakening of the "fire of thirst and longing" (آتش عطش و طلب) within us. The moment this yearning awakens in an individual, and they truly desire to be young again, the Generous One (کریم) will turn towards them without expectation. This occurs irrespective of our capabilities or outward worthiness, for it is an act of pure divine benevolence.

Another crucial point conveyed here is "Seek the present moment, abandon the past" (نقد جو اکنون، رها کن ما مضا). Zulaikha's astonishing metamorphosis symbolizes liberation from the shackles of the past. She neither drowns in regret for lost youth nor seeks to atone for past mistakes. As soon as the longing for renewal awakens within her present, the past dies, and a new future blossoms. This is the very essence of Sufism: to live in the present, liberated from the past, and hopeful for a future that can, at any moment, unfold as a miracle.

Key takeaways

• The divine power of love can rejuvenate the soul and body, even from a state of old age and decay.
• Hope for spiritual transformation and renewal is available to every human, regardless of their past.
• Divine grace operates without expectation or regard for an individual's apparent worthiness.
• Letting go of the past and focusing on the present is the primary key to miraculous rebirth.
• Joseph, the ṣāḥeb-qerān, symbolizes the perfect spiritual guide or divine grace with transformative power.
• The act of polishing the heart and achieving inner purity attracts divine blessings and miracles.