M1:411 — یار با او غار با او در سُرود / مُهر بر چشمست و بر گوشت چه سود

Translation: His companion is with him, the cave is with him, in song; But a seal is on your eye; what good is it to your ear? Meaning: Mowlana states that spiritual individuals carry their inner sanctuary and divine companionship, perpetually abiding in harmony and remembrance. However, if one's spiritual perception is sealed, their presence and profound state remain entirely unnoticed.

I arrive at this pivotal verse, which continues Mowlana's discourse on the existence of individuals who, like the Companions of the Cave (Ahl al-Kahf), live in a state of wakeful sleep within this world. Mowlana declares:

“How many Companions of the Cave are there in the world? Right beside you, present at this very moment.”

Meaning, these individuals, these gnostics, are present right beside you, yet you fail to perceive them. These are the ones for whom “his companion is with him, the cave is with him, in song.” This means the true Companion (God) is perpetually with them, and they carry their cave (their spiritual sanctuary) within themselves, dwelling in a state of continuous song, tranquility, and divine presence. They are not hidden in a material cave but bear their spiritual retreat, their detachment from the world and connection to the Divine, wherever they go. The phrase “companion and cave” holds dual significance: it echoes the story of the Prophet and Abu Bakr in the Cave of Thawr, symbolizing the pinnacle of divine companionship and protection; it also alludes to the Companions of the Cave, who, by maintaining their sanctuary, remained aloof from the world. They live within the grasp of the “Lord’s transformation” and the “Divine decree,” yet outwardly appear like everyone else.

But why do we not see them? Mowlana immediately answers: “But a seal is on your eye; what good is it to your ear?” This expression is directly drawn from the Quranic statement: “God has sealed their hearts, and over their eyes is a covering, and over their ears is a veil.” This seal on our eyes and ears prevents us from perceiving the beauty and presence of these gnostics. The problem lies not in their absence, but in our lack of inner vision and hearing. As seen in the story of Layla and Majnun, the Caliph found Layla unimpressive, but Majnun, with the eyes of his heart, saw her true beauty, asserting: “Be silent, for you are not Majnun.” This illuminating example teaches us that not every eye perceives every beauty, nor every ear hears every sound. Existence is replete with “signs,” yet “How many a sign is there in the heavens and the earth which they pass by, while they turn away from them.” People pass by these signs heedlessly because they lack spiritual insight. As Shams-e Tabrizi famously asked: “The world is full of Shams-e Tabriz; where is a man like Mowlana?”

And here, a deeper insight from a prophetic tradition becomes pertinent: “People are asleep; when they die, they awaken.” If we are in a state of sleep in this world, then this world itself is nothing more than a dream. Those gnostics, for whom “his companion is with him, the cave is with him, in song,” are in fact experiencing wakefulness within this very ‘sleep.’ They are awake while others are still immersed in their worldly dream. Their awakening is an awakening from this ‘dream of the world,’ and it is this seal on our eyes and ears that prevents us from perceiving that true wakefulness within this dream.

Key takeaways

• Saints and gnostics are present in this world, but only the eyes of the heart can perceive them.
• The 'cave' symbolizes an inner sanctuary and refuge that the gnostic carries within, not a physical location.
• The 'companion' refers to the perpetual presence of God, accompanying the gnostic and granting tranquility.
• The 'seal on eye and ear' signifies the veils of the ego and the lack of spiritual insight in the heedless.
• For many, the world is like a dream, and gnostics have achieved wakefulness within this dream.
• Perceiving unseen and spiritual truths requires the eye of the heart and the ear of the soul, not merely outward senses.