Visual Features of Divine Will and Providence in the Illustrated Manuscripts of Masnavi and Shams Sonnets

Among the most significant features in the poems of Rumi is the concept of “will” and “divine providence”. The mentioned features are abundantly manifested in the poems of Rumi due to this knowledgeable outlook. From his point of view, all substances in the universe are defined merely in the domain of God’s will and authority. Such insights, which are derived from the verses of the Qur'an, are found in various sections of Rumi's poems in Masnavi and Divan Shams. Of course, Rumi does not deny the will of man in the fullest sense; moreover, the exhortation of such verses implies his belief in the insignificance of man and his actions against the absolute power of God. The present article seeks to study the rare illustrated versions of these highly valued works (here 5 copies), focusing on the implications of these concepts in light of the centrality of divine will and desire in his poems. According to the studies, the representation of the divine will in the paintings is in accordance with the context of the story contained in the poems, and the artist selects and displays some of the narrative scenes to incline the viewer's mind toward the story and indeed the concept designated prior by the poet. Guidance, fate, triggering and burning, managing affairs, control of the heart, supplication of prayers and others are among the instances of the will of God depicted in these five versions.