M6:3839 — بلک مرگش بی‌عنایت نیز نیست / بی‌عنایت هان و هان جایی مه‌ایست

Translation: Indeed, even one's death is not without divine grace; Beware, beware, stand nowhere without grace. Meaning: This verse asserts that even the death of a seeker is facilitated by divine grace, and it strongly warns against pursuing any endeavor without relying on this essential divine providence.

I firmly believe this beyt reveals a cornerstone of Mawlana's epistemology regarding the relationship between humanity and the Divine. Here, Mawlana unequivocally states that a single instance of divine "grace" (ʿināyat) far outweighs hundreds of human efforts and strivings (ijtihād). Our efforts, while seemingly necessary, are inherently prone to corruption and misguidance; they may lose their way or lead to an incorrect destination. Divine grace, however, is like the blood flowing through the veins of every endeavor, guiding it safely to its intended end.

A more critical point is that this transcendent grace is contingent upon "death" (mamāt). "Death" here does not refer to physical demise, but rather to the death of the ego, self-centeredness, and individuality. This is precisely the "abandonment of stratagem" (turk-e hilah) that Sufis believe in: al-ḥīlah tark al-ḥīlah (the [ultimate] stratagem is the abandonment of stratagem). As long as the cunning self intervenes, as long as one believes one can carve a path through one's own cleverness, divine grace will not fully manifest itself. Only when a person "dies" from the "self," only when one declares, "there is no self in between," do the gates of grace open. This truth, indeed, has been tested and experienced by trusted mystics and wayfarers.

This meaning leads us to another reality: the unequal distribution of divine blessings and graces in this world. This is a point that the great masters have not concealed. Not all human beings are equally endowed with talents, opportunities, and good fortune. Some are born "fortunate" (bakhtiyār), and the water of grace wells up from an un-dug well in their being, while others dig ceaselessly yet find no water. This inequality is true not only for natural and material gifts but also for spiritual endowments and proximity to the Divine.

The beyt concludes with an emphatic warning: "Beware, beware, stand nowhere without grace." This is not a mere command or prohibition, but an existential admonition. It means, O seeker, in no state, at no stage of your spiritual journey, should you take a single step without relying on divine grace. Every step taken, every effort made, must be in the light and shadow of divine grace. Disregarding this principle means falling into the abyss of despair or false pride. It is akin to surrendering oneself to the ocean, rather than battling its waves in one's small boat.

Key takeaways

• One instance of divine grace surpasses a hundred human efforts.
• Even the seeker's death occurs not without divine grace.
• The ultimate stratagem is to abandon all stratagems and rely on divine grace.
• Divine grace is the true fortune and destiny of a person.
• The distribution of divine blessings and graces is unequal in the world; some are fortunate, others are not.
• The seeker must never take a single step without relying on divine grace.