M6:2640 — یار را با یار چون بنشسته شد / صد هزاران لوح سر دانسته شد

Translation: When the Beloved with the beloved sits, / hundreds of thousands of Tablet-secrets (lawḥ-i sar) become known. Meaning: This verse conveys that in the presence and companionship of the Divine Beloved, one becomes aware of the hidden and countless secrets of existence, and the truths of the world are unveiled to them.

This profound verse unequivocally speaks of the wellspring of gnosis and the unveiling of secrets. Undoubtedly, the 'Beloved' (yār) here refers to the Divine Beloved, who directly illuminates the heart and soul of the seeker. Mawlana asserts that when a human reaches the station of union with this sacred reality, no secret remains veiled.

The terms 'Tablet-secrets' (lawḥ-i sar) and the 'Preserved Tablet' (Lawḥ-i Maḥfūẓ), which Mawlana himself interprets in the subsequent verse — "The Beloved's brow is the Preserved Tablet; / it reveals the secrets of both worlds" — allude to the inner essence and hidden dimension of the cosmos. This is that boundless knowledge residing within the divine essence, inscribed, as the Quran states, in the 'Preserved Tablet.' I have frequently explained, citing Allameh Tabataba'i, that this 'Preserved Tablet' carries two fundamental meanings, both relevant here: firstly, it is immune from all error and mistake; and secondly, it is safe from change and alteration. This immunity from change holds a profound significance, implying that these truths and knowledge transcend time and space. Whatever exists in this temporal and spatial realm is inevitably subject to transformation and decay. However, the truths of that higher realm, being free from the constraints of time and space, are exempt from all change.

Therefore, when the 'Divine Beloved' companions the seeker, their 'brow' (a metaphor for their manifestation and truth) itself becomes the 'Preserved Tablet' of secrets. The secrets of both worlds, encompassing both the manifest and the hidden realms, are then revealed to the seeker. This unveiling of secrets is not achieved through reading books or formal lessons, but through connecting with the origin and source of all knowledge, which is the 'Divine Beloved' themself. Mawlana immediately admonishes, "Go seek the Divine Beloved quickly; / when you do this, God will be your companion," emphasizing the necessity of action and striving to find this peerless Beloved, the result of which is the companionship and aid of God Himself.

Key takeaways

• The presence and companionship of the 'Divine Beloved' is the fount for discovering the myriad secrets of existence.
• The 'Tablet-secrets' and 'Preserved Tablet' are metaphors for infinite divine knowledge, immune to error or alteration.
• The truths of the cosmos, especially those beyond time and space, are unveiled through profound connection with the all-knowing Beloved.
• This verse emphasizes the necessity of striving to find the Divine Beloved as the sole path to true gnosis.