M6:4352 — عین آن مکر آیت موسی شود / اعتبار آن عصا بالا رود

Translation: The very essence of that deception becomes Moses' miracle, and the prestige of that staff ascends. Meaning: This verse illustrates how the trickery of enemies and magicians against prophets, by divine will, transforms into a sign of truth and a miracle, thus doubling the prophet's esteem.

I have often emphasized that our world is full of "hidden grace" (lutf-i khafī). To judge phenomena solely by their outward appearance is a grave oversight. Mawlana beautifully illuminates this wisdom: sometimes what appears to be evil, in fact, opens a path to good; what is an enemy's deception, leads to the manifestation of a grand miracle. This verse shines in the story of Prophet Moses and Pharaoh's magicians. The magicians, with their tricks, sought to deny Moses' prophethood and portray his staff as a mere plaything, no different from their own ropes and serpents. But God, who is "the best of schemers" (Quran 3:54), made their scheme the very essence of Moses' miracle. That is to say, the magical act, far from weakening Moses, transformed into a sign that revealed his truthfulness more profoundly than ever. It was then that the staff's prestige, and by extension, Moses' dignity and status, not only remained undiminished but soared to its peak.

This phenomenon is not limited to Moses' story; it is a general principle in divine wisdom. Just as we see in Ghazali and, prior to him, in the Quran, God sometimes places the antidote within the venom. Sometimes a person commits a sin which, if it leads to genuine repentance, elevates them to a station they could never have achieved through mere good deeds. Mawlana himself states, "Blessed is the sin a man committed," referring to a fortunate transgression that paves the way for repentance and spiritual ascent. Deniers intended to humiliate the prophets, but the very abasement they desired for them transformed into "glory and the appearance of miracles." These are all examples of lutf-i khafī, showing us God's hidden hand at work in the world. We must not be oblivious to God's agency at the core of affairs; He orchestrates everything behind the curtain, and perhaps what appears to us or to our enemies as "deception" or "harm" is merely a means to realize a deeper wisdom and a hidden grace. Mawlana's world is one where even errors can be a prelude to guidance, and every "deviation" can turn into a "harvest of benevolence." This perspective liberates us from despair and guides us to the truth that, even in the darkest moments, hope in a hidden hand always exists.

Key takeaways

• Appearances are deceiving; divine "hidden grace" (lutf-i khafī) can transform evil into good and deception into a miracle.
• God is "the best of schemers"; He even uses the plots of enemies to prove the truthfulness of His saints.
• What we perceive as straying or error can sometimes be a prelude to deeper guidance and spiritual growth.
• Moses' staff symbolizes how divine prestige increases through challenges and trickery, not despite them.
• There is no room for despair; even in sin, if coupled with sincere repentance, a "robe of forgiveness" and a reward greater than mere good deeds is hidden.