M6:4342 — نیست مخفی در نماز آن مکرمت / در گنه خلعت نهد آن مغفرت

Translation: That grace is not hidden in prayer; but in sin, that forgiveness bestows a robe of honor. Meaning: The verse states that while the reward and grace of prayer are evident and unconcealed, God's favor and forgiveness are sometimes hidden within the very act of sin, elevating the repentant sinner to a higher spiritual station.

In this verse, Mawlana alludes to one of the most subtle and profound points of divine wisdom, which I call 'hidden grace' (Luṭf-i Khafī). This concept has, of course, been prevalent in our mystical tradition for a long time, as Sa'di also states in his Gulistan: 'Oh, do not despair, you afflicted soul, for the All-Merciful has hidden graces.' This means, never lose hope in the face of tribulation or error, for God possesses unseen favors.

The verse asserts that the grace and reward found in prayer are obvious and manifest; no one doubts that worship brings divine recompense and favor. This 'grace' (makramat) 'is not hidden in prayer.' However, Mawlana immediately introduces a striking notion: 'But in sin, that forgiveness bestows a robe of honor.' This signifies that divine forgiveness, like an exquisite robe, is placed within the very heart of sin. This implies that sin itself, if it leads to remorse and repentance, can become a unique means for attracting God's special attention and approach towards the servant.

I refer to this as the alchemy of repentance. Many mistakenly believe that repentance is merely a return to square one, or to one's state before the sin; as if one's five points, after sinning, dropped to zero, and repentance merely brings them back to five. But Mawlana and other great mystics state that repentance is an ascension (miʿraj). Repentance not only does not return a person to their original point but elevates them to a far higher station. When the Quran states that God 'changes evil deeds into good deeds' (sayyiʾāt ra badal ba hasanāt mīkunad), it means that these 'dusts' of sin are transformed into the 'gold' of good deeds; this is not just cleansing, but alchemy. The more sins an individual has committed, if they offer sincere repentance, the greater their spiritual leap and their honor will be.

This is precisely the point to which the eloquent Hafez also alludes: 'Heaven is our lot, O God-worshipper, go / For sinners are worthy of grace.' There is a grace in repentance that is not bestowed upon those who have never sinned. The profound effort one makes for remorse, self-confession, and rebellion against one's own lower self, is such a tremendous leap that it transforms one's character. It is for this reason that Mawlana says elsewhere: 'How blessed is the sin that a man commits' (bas khujasta maʿsiyat kān kard mard). This, of course, is contingent on that sin leading the individual back to the Divine Threshold and culminating in true repentance.

The secret of this hidden grace in sin is also evident in a Prophetic tradition, which states: 'If you do not sin, you will be afflicted with something worse than it, and that is self-conceit (ʿujb).' Self-conceit imprisons a person in the apparent goodness of their actions, hindering their transformation and growth. But sin, followed by repentance, opens a window to humility, self-awareness of one's shortcomings, and ultimately, to boundless divine favor. This repentance is like an antidote derived from the heart of poison; that theriac which itself contains a part of the viper, and ultimately becomes humanity's savior.

Key takeaways

• Divine grace is not always manifest; sometimes it is hidden within adverse events or even sin itself.
• Repentance is not mere purification, but a spiritual leap and ascension that elevates the sinner to a higher station.
• For the repentant, God transforms evil deeds into good ones; this is the alchemy of repentance.
• Self-conceit (ʿujb) is more perilous than many sins; a sin leading to repentance can break this conceit.
• The forgiveness and robe of honor bestowed by God upon the repentant sinner is a special grace not granted to others.