Overview

In Book Three of the Masnavi (Section 152), Rumi describes the miracle of a two-month-old infant of an unbelieving woman who speaks in the presence of Prophet Muhammad, greeting him and testifying to his prophethood. This event mirrors the Quranic miracle of the infant Jesus speaking in the cradle.

Theological and Allegorical Signification

1. Divine Grace over Natural Law: The speaking infant represents how divine grace can transcend the physical limits of human development (such as age or speech capacity).
2. Spiritual Perception: While the mother is blind to the spiritual reality, the infant is able to see the Archangel Gabriel standing above her, symbolizing how the spiritually pure or innocent possess immediate perception of the unseen (ghayb).
3. The Prophetic Proof: The infant's testimony serves as a miraculous proof (mu'jiza) of Muhammad's prophethood, compelling the mother and observers to recognize the truth.