M1:98 — ای لقای تو جواب هر سؤال / مشکل از تو حل شود بی‌قیل‌وقال

Translation: O you whose encounter is the answer to every question, Through you, every problem is solved without dispute or debate. Meaning: Addressed to the Divine Physician, this verse asserts that merely encountering him resolves all difficulties and answers all queries, without any need for words or arguments.

This verse, spoken by the yearning King to the Divine Physician he has finally found, reveals a crucial insight that permeates the entirety of the Masnavi and the mystical path itself: at times, an existential 'encounter' (liqāʾ) or presence is, in itself, the answer to all questions and the solver of all dilemmas.

I have always maintained that in the story of the King and the Slave-girl, the events that unfold are mere pretexts. The King falls in love with the slave-girl, she falls ill, and these are all strands woven by the Divine to lead a person to their ultimate destination. The true aim was the discovery of this Divine Physician. When this encounter takes place, the King exclaims, 'O you whose encounter is the answer to every question.' This means there is no need for me to present my questions one by one for you to answer them individually. Your very presence is a comprehensive answer. This is precisely echoed beautifully by Mowlana in the story of the Arab who brought water to the Sultan: 'Wait until your senses are transformed, so you may see them, and the problem will be solved.'

Our problems often stem from a lack of true perception, from failing to see obvious truths. When we face Divine Men, it is as if another eye opens within us, another sense awakens, through which the veil is lifted from many unseen realities. This 'transformation of sense' and the opening of the inner eye resolves many difficulties. Therefore, 'through you, every problem is solved without dispute or debate.' This means the resolution occurs not through argument, debate, or reasoning, but through intuition and presence. This is a fundamental difference between the path of intellect and the path of gnosis. Intellect rushes to argument and reasoning, but gnosis to encounter and witnessing. Meeting such men serves as a testament to the possibility of truth's existence, and for the seeker, this is sufficient.

Key takeaways

• The Power of Encounter (Liqāʾ): The mere presence or encounter with Divine men is in itself a comprehensive answer and solution.
• Resolution Without Debate: Problems are resolved through intuition and experience, not through argument or reasoning.
• Transformation of Sense: Encountering truth opens the inner eye and profoundly alters one's perception.
• Divine Pretexts: Life's events often serve as pretexts, divinely orchestrated to guide individuals towards deeper spiritual ends.