M6:4360 — نیست مخفی سیر با پای روا / ساحران را سیر بین در قطع پا

Translation: The journey with a ready foot is not hidden; behold the magicians' journey when their foot is severed. Meaning: This verse states that ordinary travel by conventional means is evident, but the miraculous, unconventional spiritual journey – akin to magicians traveling without feet – is not inherently concealed; rather, it reveals God's subtle grace and an alternative, profound path.

This verse, in essence, encapsulates the very core of Mowlana's theory of Lutf-i Khafi (Hidden Grace), a concept he emphasizes throughout the Masnavi. The ability to journey with an 'active foot' (سیر با پای روا), referring to conventional, visible means of progress, is evident and easily perceived. However, the true wonder lies in observing the 'journey of magicians when their foot is severed' (ساحران را سیر بین در قطع پا) – a metaphor for attaining goals and making progress through avenues that appear blocked, impossible, or contrary to conventional logic. This speaks to a deeper, miraculous mode of spiritual advancement.

I have often stated that 'misguidance can be a prelude to guidance' (ضلالت مقدمه هدایت است). What seems outwardly like error or deviation can, in fact, be the starting point of a direct path and a divine blessing. It is akin to the story of the Baghdadi man whose long journey to Egypt, seemingly a straying from his true destination, ultimately led him to a treasure within his own home. His 'active foot' seemed to be carrying him towards Egypt, but in truth, through an unseen process of 'severing the foot' of conventional understanding, it led him to an inner discovery.

As Mowlana beautifully expresses elsewhere, 'Within the poison, that Affectionate One placed the antidote, so that they may call Him the Possessor of Hidden Grace.' God, in His infinite kindness, sometimes places the remedy within the very heart of the ailment. This is the grace that appears as wrath but is, in essence, pure generosity and benevolence. It functions much like vaccination, where a small dose of the pathogen is introduced to build immunity against the disease itself.

Consider the example, 'In sin, He places the robe of forgiveness' (در گنه خلعت نهد آن مغفرت). A sin, when followed by sincere repentance, is not merely cleansed but can elevate the human being to higher spiritual stations than one who never sinned. Repentance is an alchemist; it not only erases sins but transforms them into good deeds, and indeed, into a treasure of spiritual knowledge. As Mowlana notes, 'Blessed is the sin that a man commits' (بس خجسته معصیت کان کرد مرد), provided it leads to genuine remorse and repentance.

Similarly, the deniers of the prophets, who sought their humiliation ('idhlāl thiquāt'), inadvertently triggered the manifestation of miracles and the 'honor of the apostles' ('izz-i rasūlān'). Or Abraha, who marched with his army to destroy the Kaaba, yet his efforts ultimately led to the greater veneration of the Kaaba and his own spoils becoming the wealth of the poor Arabs. These are all vivid illustrations of Lutf-i Khafi, where 'travel without feet' comes to fruition; the outwardly blocked or incorrect path transforms into a blessed and fruitful journey.

This verse teaches us not to be content with mere appearances or conventional logic. Sometimes, obstacles are themselves the means; sometimes, misguidance is the true path; and sometimes, the severing of the foot is a form of flight. This is the depth of Mowlana's insight into the architecture of existence and the paradoxical workings of divine decree, which is never linear or simplistic.

Key takeaways

• Divine Lutf-i Khafi (Hidden Grace) often operates through paradoxes and unconventional means.
• What appears as an obstacle or a misstep can be a hidden pathway to profound spiritual progress.
• The soul's journey transcends linear and conventional cause-and-effect reasoning.
• True insight reveals the 'antidote within the poison' and 'forgiveness within sin.'
• Miraculous spiritual 'travel' occurs when conventional means are transcended or 'cut off.'