M6:3320 — عقل ما کو تا ببیند غرب و شرق / روح‌ها را می‌زند صد گونه برق

Translation: Where is our intellect, that it may see souls, in the East and West, While a hundred kinds of lightning strike those souls? Meaning: This verse questions the capacity of our limited intellect to perceive the vastness and dynamic spiritual experiences of souls across the world, as these souls are constantly touched by diverse divine inspirations and illuminations.

This verse, posed as an interrogative yet carrying a definitive tone, points to the inadequacy of human intellect in comprehending the vastness and profound transformations of souls. What Mawlana articulates here, in my estimation, necessitates a precise re-reading, as some commentators have, I believe, somewhat inverted its true meaning.

Firstly, the correct parsing of the verse is crucial. Mawlana states: "Where is our intellect, that it may see / In the East and West, the souls / Which a hundred kinds of lightning strike?" This reading clarifies that "East and West" is not the direct object of "to see," but rather an adverbial phrase denoting the location and vast scope of "souls." So, where is our intellect that it can truly perceive souls, in all corners of the world, with all their expanse and diversity?

Secondly, the concept of "barq" (lightning or flash) is pivotal. "A hundred kinds of lightning strike those souls." These flashes are sudden divine illuminations and inspirations—manifestations that stir souls, transform them, and set them on new paths. These "barqs" are "a hundred kinds," meaning they possess astonishing diversity, reflecting the multitude and quality of human spiritual experiences. Our intellect cannot grasp the totality of these transformations and manifestations because it is confined to forms and structures, whereas the soul belongs to the realm of formlessness.

Our intellect navigates an ocean of "zabad" (foam), which is the realm of nature and forms. This sea of nature experiences ebb and flow, and our intellect is caught in this rhythm. However, when the soul detaches from this world and returns to its origin, its "juzr" (ebb) recedes, and its "madd" (flow, or elevation) remains. This enduring "madd" signifies connection to formlessness and liberation from the constraints of East and West, and from the deficient understandings of the intellect. As contemporary philosopher Thomas Nagel, who endeavors to find a foundation for consciousness beyond matter, would suggest, we must acknowledge that consciousness and the soul are realities more fundamental than material forms. These divine flashes liberate the soul from these worldly determinations, and our intellect remains incapable of fully grasping this liberation and this "enduring madd."

Key takeaways

• The intellect's limitation in grasping the vastness and depth of spiritual transformations.
• The 'lightnings' symbolize diverse divine inspirations and manifestations upon souls.
• The soul belongs to the realm of formlessness; the intellect is bound by forms.
• The soul's salvation lies in escaping the ebb and flow of the natural world and sustaining its spiritual 'flow'.
• Mawlana, in this verse, critiques superficial perspectives on spiritual phenomena.