M6:1067 — روز روشن گردد آن شب چون صباح / من نتانم باز گفت آن اصطلاح

Translation: That night would turn bright like morning; / I cannot elaborate on that unique mode of address (istilāh). Meaning: Rumi states that the Prophet's intimate address to Bilal was so profoundly transformative that it could turn the darkest night into bright day. Yet, Rumi confesses his inability to articulate this specific, supra-linguistic mode of communication (istilāh).

This couplet speaks to the profound, ineffable experience that transpired between the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Bilal al-Habashi (RA). Rumi, in the preceding verse (M6:1066), asks what the Prophet said to Bilal that, if spoken to the night itself, would cause the night to shed its darkness. Here, he answers: such was the discourse that it would turn night into bright morning, yet I am incapable of articulating that specific mode of address. The term istilāh is key to understanding this passage.

I strongly contend that Rumi implies the Prophet 'said nothing' in the conventional sense. No message was verbally conveyed to Bilal that could be recounted through ordinary words. What occurred was a deep spiritual communion and empathetic transmission—a form of speaking without uttering. This idea is then elaborated by Rumi through the examples of 'God's speech in His creation.' Just as the sun in Aries (spring) 'speaks' to plants and seeds, commanding them to sprout and emerge from the earth—an imperative delivered not by words but by warmth, light, and existential influence—and just as pure water 'speaks' to herbs and saplings, causing them to grow, so too is God's sunʿ (craftsmanship, making) a form of speech. God presses the buttons and sets things in motion, rather than issuing literal commands. Thus, it is possible to 'say something without saying anything at all.'

The istilāh that Rumi finds himself incapable of recounting is precisely this non-verbal, profoundly impactful mode of communication from the Prophet; a method of transmitting spiritual state (ḥāl) and station (maqām), rather than mere verbal discourse (qāl). This transmission possessed such power that it could transform the darkest existential or objective realities into pure light. This is, without a doubt, a manifestation of the 'revelation of the heart' (waḥy-i dil) that I have discussed previously, which Rumi equates with 'divine revelation' (waḥy-i ḥaqq). This language operates beyond grammar and logic; it is a language that brings about annihilation (maḥv), rather than teaching syntax (naḥv). It is yet another testament to the truth that Rumi's world is one where 'God's craftsmanship to all parts of the world / is like the breath and words of enchanters.'

Key takeaways

• The Prophet's power of communication (and silence) transcended ordinary language, conveying spiritual states and meanings directly.
• The term istilāh refers to a unique mode of transmitting meaning that lies beyond conventional words and concepts.
• What the Prophet conveyed to Bilal was not speech but a profound empathy and spiritual influence, capable of turning darkness into light.
• Rumi illustrates divine communication through God's creative acts in nature; a 'speech' manifest in action and effect.
• Such profound spiritual transmissions can bring about fundamental transformations within the deepest layers of one's being.