M6:337 — آنک از دادش نیاید هیچ بد / داند و بی‌خواهشی خود می‌دهد

Translation: He from whose giving no evil can arise, Knows, and Himself gives without any request. Meaning: This verse describes God as the benevolent Giver, from whom no harm originates. He knows what is needed and bestows it autonomously, without requiring any pleas or requests from His creation.

I read this verse in a far deeper context than merely refraining from asking others. Mowlana, following the Prophet's dictum, "If you desire paradise from God, ask for nothing from anyone," seems to delve into the very foundation of requesting. This beyt describes God: "He from whose giving no evil can arise." This signifies the Divine Essence, from whose bestowals only good emerges, and no harm can penetrate His generosity. Mowlana then adds: "Knows, and Himself gives without any request." This means God Himself knows what is needed and, out of His infinite knowledge, wisdom, and grace, bestows it without any plea.

This is the profound, esoteric meaning Mowlana alludes to in Book 3 of the Mathnawi, where he articulates his unique perspective on du'a (supplication) and asking. Mowlana categorizes awliya (saints) into two groups: those who are "people of prayer," who "sometimes sew and sometimes unsew"; meaning, they pray, they seek to alter circumstances, and they ask God for things. However, there is "another group of saints I know / whose tongues are tied from prayer." Why? Because they have attained the station of riza (contentment) – absolute submission to divine decree (qaza). These individuals find a special delight in whatever comes from the Divine, and thus, asking for relief or the warding off of qaza is considered kufr (blasphemy) for them.

This is a very high and rare station in the spiritual journey (suluk-e ma'navi). The station of riza brings the seeker to a point where they ask for nothing, not only from other beings but even from the Creator. This is not out of ignorance or despair, but out of the perfection of gnosis and absolute trust in God's infinite knowledge and pure benevolence. When one believes that "He from whose giving no evil can arise" and that He "knows and Himself gives without any request," what room is left for asking? To ask at this station is seen as a sign of doubt in God's knowledge or His benevolence. Mowlana's perspective here reflects a profound monotheism, placing the pure servant in ultimate submission and contentment before the absolute Divine Will, free from any human contrivance or objection. This is the pinnacle of annihilation in the Divine Will.

Key takeaways

• God, as the All-Knowing and Pure Good, fulfills His creatures' needs without requiring their explicit requests.
• The station of Riza (contentment) represents the pinnacle of spiritual journey, where the seeker abstains from all asking, even from God.
• For true saints at the station of Riza, attempting to alter divine decree or seeking liberation is considered a form of blasphemy.
• Mowlana's perspective emphasizes complete submission and unquestioning trust in Divine Wisdom and Will.
• God's giving is always good, from which no evil arises; therefore, there is no room to doubt His benevolence.