M6:2286 — خیز ای داود از خلقان نفیر / ترک آن کردی عوض از ما بگیر

Translation: Arise, O David, from the clamor of people; / You abandoned them, now take your recompense from Us. Meaning: This verse addresses Prophet David, urging him to withdraw from the clamor of human society, assuring him that God will be his companion and reward for renouncing worldly attachments.

This profound verse, spoken from the divine tongue to Prophet David, represents one of Rumi's most luminous insights. It urges David to “arise from the clamor of people”—a “nafīr” here signifying the worldly noise and commotion of human society, not the lament of the reed. It is a call from the human multitude to a spiritual solitude. This act of abandoning human companionship is a form of “judāyī” (separation), yet it is not the existential loneliness that bemoans nothingness; rather, it is that “green sorrow” which serves as a prelude to union with the Truth.

The verse then promises: “You abandoned them, now take your recompense from Us.” Here, “Us” refers to God. It means that if you relinquish people and their attachments, I Myself will become your substitute; I will compensate you. This is the hidden truth behind many of the Masnavi's tales, demonstrating that letting go of what is other than God is a prerequisite for attaining Him. It speaks to God’s boundless generosity and grace; even if an individual is “āyesān” (despairing) or a disbeliever, or suffers from their own “kufrān” (ingratitude), God's favor transforms it into “inābat” (repentance and turning to Him).

Rumi subtly conveys this point by recounting the story of David and the mountains echoing his voice. The mountains, these silent and formidable entities, would hum in response to David’s beautiful melodies, and even birds would join his song. These are natural entities that, in a sense, become the “recompense” for the “clamor” of people. Nature itself becomes a mirror reflecting the seeker’s spiritual state, and thus, the mountains’ harmonious chorus with David symbolizes the companionship of existence with a seeker who has turned away from creation and towards the Truth. This verse shows that the door of divine mercy is perpetually open, and those who detach themselves from worldly concerns are never left uncompensated; rather, God Himself becomes their recompense and companion. This is a message brimming with hope and vitality, the very “tarab” (joy) of the Masnavi that polishes away sorrows, even amidst separations and relinquishments.

Key takeaways

• A call to withdraw from worldly clamor for spiritual solitude.
• Relinquishing earthly attachments is a prerequisite for divine companionship and recompense.
• This 'separation' from creation is not existential loneliness but an endeavor for union with the Truth.
• God's boundless grace and mercy can transform even ingratitude into repentance.
• Nature's harmony with the seeker symbolizes the companionship of existence for those who turn to God.