M6:2635 — رازگویان با زبان و بی‌زبان / الجماعه رحمه را تاویل دان

Translation: Secret-sharers, with and without language, Interpret the community as mercy. Meaning: This verse speaks of companionship where secrets are revealed not only through words but also through subtle cues and states of being, thereby defining such direct, intuitive understanding as integral to the mercy found in community.

This beyt is one of those pivotal lines from Mawlana that unveils the mystery of "non-verbal communication" and situates it within the context of communal mercy and blessing. When Mawlana speaks of "secret-sharers, with and without language," he points to a profound truth inherent in human, and even divine, interactions. Communication is not confined merely to the exchange of words; we witness this clearly in empathetic gatherings, in gazes, in shared atmospheres, and in that "connection of hearts" (which Mawlana expresses elsewhere: "From heart to heart, through hidden ways / Goodness and malice flow in subtle rays").

Friends who meet and whose hearts are "expanded" by their encounter do not merely speak; their thoughts and memories silently flow into one another. That is to say, the listener discerns the secrets within the other not just from words, but from a glance, from states of being, from subtle gestures, and even from the very breath of their companion. It is as if a "common language" beyond conventional tongues becomes active. This "speaking without language" is for Mawlana not merely a poetic image, but an existential truth.

I have always emphasized that this mode of communication holds true even in the realm of divine interactions. When the Quran states, "When your Lord said to the angels," the question of God's language arises. Did God speak to the angels in Persian or Arabic? Undoubtedly not. This "speaking" was non-verbal, yet its meaning was entirely conveyed. Divine revelation is often like this: not a matter of mere words, but of the transmission of truth. Thus, one becomes aware of mysteries through channels far deeper than spoken language.

Mawlana's interpretation of "Al-Jama'ah Rahmah" (Community is a mercy) gains a special meaning in light of this "speaking without language." This mercy in companionship does not merely derive from good words and constructive advice, but from that expansion of the heart and inner solace that arises from the direct, unmediated understanding between souls. It is as if being together itself becomes a "language" that dispels anxieties and concerns, unburdening the heart. This is the warmth and purity that noble souls bestow upon each other, illuminating hearts.

Key takeaways

• True communication transcends words; hearts speak to each other through glances and states of being.
• The concept of "speaking without language" provides a framework for understanding deep human connections and even divine revelation.
• The mercy and blessing of community arise not only from verbal exchange but also from the "expansion of heart" and unspoken understanding.
• Mawlana emphasizes the "connection of hearts" and the flow of good and ill will through hidden paths, exemplifying non-verbal secret-sharing.
• Warmth and purity in companionship stem from people's ability to understand each other without the need for formal language.