M6:4137 — عقل ابدالان چو پر جبرئیل / می‌پرد تا ظل سدره میل میل

Translation: The intellect of the Abdals, like Gabriel's wing, soars, mile by mile, up to the shade of the Sidrah. Meaning: This verse describes the transcendent and divinely-aided intellect of perfected mystics (Abdals) which, unlike ordinary reason, can ascend to the highest spiritual stations and divine proximity.

Mowlana here speaks of a particular kind of 'intellect' (ʿaql) that differs fundamentally from what we generally call the 'partial intellect' (ʿaql-i juzvī). This is the intellect of the 'Abdals'—the true saints and perfected mystics who are the spiritual inheritors of the prophets. In stark contrast, the partial intellect is described by Mowlana as 'small-minded' (keh-tarak-sān) and 'connected to carcass-eating' (far-i ū bā jīfe-khwārī muttasil). Such an intellect is limited, self-serving, enslaved by worldly attachments, and incapable of soaring towards the Divine.

However, the 'intellect of the Abdals' possesses wings akin to 'Gabriel's wing' (par-i Jibrāʾīl). I believe this is a profoundly meaningful metaphor. Gabriel, the archangel of revelation, symbolizes purity, speed, and direct connection to the sacred realm. Gabriel's wing is a celestial appendage, untainted by earthly dust, and effortlessly conveys divine messages. This Abdali intellect is not merely the product of human endeavor; rather, it is connected to divine aid and inspiration, born of revelation (waḥy) and mystical unveiling (kashf), not earthly reasoning and analogy.

The destination of this flight is 'the shade of the Sidrah' (ẓill-i Sidrah). Sidrat al-Muntahā, the magnificent Lote Tree at the utmost boundary of the heavens, is, as per the Quran, the highest station of divine proximity. It is the point where even Gabriel pauses, and where the Prophet Muhammad arrived during his Miʿraj. This Sidrah symbolizes the ultimate rank of divine presence and the zenith of spiritual journey; a place where there is no longer space or time, but only pure light and absolute truth. To fly to the 'shade of the Sidrah' means to attain a state of unmediated proximity to the Divine Reality.

The phrase 'mīl mīl' (mile by mile) in this verse is crucial. It does not signify slowness or a step-by-step progression in the material sense, but rather refers to persistence, unwavering resolve, boundless longing, and a purposeful, continuous flight. This flight, unlike the flight of Nimrod's vultures—who flew out of a mere whim to reach God, only to have their wings break halfway—is a flight that reaches its destination. Mowlana clearly articulates this difference: 'The partial intellect, in its aspiration and desire to reach God, is like those vultures whose wings break halfway and they fall.' The intellect of the Abdals, however, experiences a successful flight with Gabriel's wing.

Such a spiritual journey, of course, is not possible without a master (pīr). Prior to this verse, Mowlana emphasizes the necessity of a 'pīr-i rashād' (guide to the right path)—a master who knows the way and leads the seeker out of the darkness of confusion. The intellect of the Abdals is the result of a spiritual path initially embarked upon under the guidance of such a master, and then, relying on divine grace, it reaches a state of self-sufficiency and independent flight.

Key takeaways

• The 'intellect of the Abdals' is a transcendent faculty connected to divine aid, operating beyond the limited 'partial intellect'.
• 'Gabriel's wing' symbolizes divine support, granting the mystic the power of unhindered spiritual flight.
• The 'shade of the Sidrah' represents the zenith of spiritual journey and the ultimate divine proximity.
• The verse emphasizes the inadequacy of the partial intellect (like Nimrod's vultures) for reaching God, while the divinely-empowered intellect of the Abdals succeeds.
• The 'mile by mile' flight signifies profound yearning, resolute will, and purposeful movement towards truth.
• Mowlana, in this section, underscores the necessity of a spiritual guide (pīr) at the outset of the path, which ultimately cultivates such a transcendent intellect.