M6:3133 — چون همی کرد از عدم گردون پدید / وین بساط خاک را می‌گسترید

Translation: When He was bringing the cosmos into being from non-existence, and spreading out this carpet of earth. Meaning: This verse describes God's act of creating the universe and earth from nothingness, presenting an image of the genesis of existence.

This verse, delivered with an assertive and direct tone, refers to Rumi's narrative of the creation of the cosmos and the spreading of the earth; the moment when God brought the “cosmos (gardūn)” into being “from non-existence” and “spread out this carpet of earth.” This is the image of creation that Rumi, like the scholars and thinkers of his era, presented: a direct, instantaneous act with a singular, unified design. God directly created beings and endowed each with their capacities.

However, it must be noted that our contemporary interpretation of these verses carries significant differences. Traditional views on creation, deeply rooted in our sacred texts and religious culture, often perceived creation as a singular, actual historical event, instantaneous and occurring at a specific time—for example, six or seven thousand years ago. Yet today, our mindset is profoundly influenced by the theory of evolution and modern sciences. We can no longer accept that “reason appeared suddenly, the human body appeared suddenly” or that living beings were created “instantaneously and singularly.”

I believe that this view, though prevalent in Rumi’s time, must now be read with a fresh interpretation. Creation is not an instantaneous event, but a gradual, multi-million-year process. Molecules have accumulated, organs have slowly formed, and humanity has not “suddenly acquired reason and intelligence.” Even the notion that “Adam is from clay” is now, more than a chemical reality, a subtle religious metaphor. Our structural composition is carbon-based, not silicon-based. Therefore, the “potter's breath” and “pottery clay” in the Quran and Masnavi are beautiful and profound allegories of divine creative power, rather than scientific reports of the precise mechanics of creation.

This does not mean that Rumi’s poetry is rendered meaningless. On the contrary! Rather, these verses must be re-read in light of new understandings. The “direct, instantaneous unified design” that the ancients conceived must give way to a “gradual-acquisition design.” God did not rush or hurry in creation; rather, with patience and deliberation, He followed the path of gradual unfolding. This approach allows us to preserve the reverence for Rumi's words while reconciling them with our modern comprehension. This gradual view of creation itself testifies to the depth and continuity of divine providence, which is constantly at work, in every moment and every step, never idle.

Key takeaways

• The creation of the cosmos and earth from non-existence is a manifestation of absolute divine power.
• Rumi's depiction of creation reflects the traditional understanding of instantaneous and direct genesis.
• In our time, these verses must be reinterpreted metaphorically, in light of evolutionary theory.
• The 'direct, instantaneous unified design' gives way to a 'gradual-acquisition design'; creation was a patient, extended process.