M6:3552 — گر روانم را پژولانند زود / صد در محنت بریشان بر گشود

Translation: If they vex my soul, then swiftly A hundred doors of suffering will open upon them. Meaning: This verse conveys a stern warning from the deceased Khwāja (master/merchant) to his heirs: should they disregard his his will and spiritual intentions, thus troubling his soul, countless misfortunes will befall them.

This verse is one of those profound expressions that Mawlānā, with his masterful command, places in the mouth of a character within his narratives to illuminate a deeper truth. Here, a deceased Khwāja (master/merchant), appearing in a dream to his intermediary, issues a severe threat to his heirs: 'If they vex my soul, then swiftly / A hundred doors of suffering will open upon them.' The 'vexing' or 'withering' of his soul is an idiom for disregarding his will and his covenant with God, which stipulates that his immense wealth be used to settle a debt and aid the needy.

I believe this statement, beyond being a mere legal injunction, articulates Mawlānā's ethical and mystical perspective. Shi'i fiqh (jurisprudence), and I strongly presume Sunni fiqh as well, validates a person's will only up to one-third of their estate after debts are paid. Beyond that, the property belongs to the heirs, and the will concerning it is not enforceable. However, the Khwāja in Mawlānā's story wills that all of his vast wealth and precious jewels be used to repay a stranger's debt and assist him, with not a single dirham returning to his heirs. He has made 'vows with the Majestic One' (Dhū'l-Jalāl) for this purpose. This is where Mawlānā skillfully connects the legal to the mystical; the Khwāja's threat of 'a hundred doors of suffering' is not merely a legal consequence, but a spiritual and cosmic retribution for violating a divine pact. Heirs who disregard this pure intention have not only fallen ethically, but have exposed themselves to divine wrath and countless tribulations.

Mawlānā further underscores the importance of not retracting a gift and fulfilling one's promise by invoking a tradition from the Prophet Muhammad, stating that one who retracts a gift is 'like a dog that returns to its vomit.' This stark metaphor reveals the extent to which Mawlānā regarded the seriousness of these ethical and spiritual matters. The Khwāja here places himself in the position of a giver who has 'milked the milk of his being' and will not take it back; any interference with this endowment is a vexation of his soul, leading to dire consequences.

I have previously noted that Mawlānā rarely addresses everyday or purely legalistic matters. He even refrains from mentioning the Mongol invasion or the theological disputes prevalent in his time. His focus is on the 'human condition' and the eternal architecture of the soul and truth. Therefore, this story is less about stating a fiqhi rule and more about depicting a moral and spiritual truth: that benevolent intention and will remain potent and sacred even after death, and any transgression against them carries deep implications for one's psyche and destiny. Did Mawlānā himself compose this story? Undeniably, many Masnavi stories have a didactic and allegorical nature, created by him to convey his profound concepts in the form of 'the soul's storytelling.' This verse itself is testament to the fact that intentions in the spiritual world transcend material and legal norms, retaining their efficacy.

Key takeaways

• A benevolent will, akin to a covenant with God, retains spiritual power and sanctity even after death.
• Disobedience to wills based on pure intentions is not merely a violation of material laws, but leads to profound spiritual consequences and tribulations.
• Through this narrative, Mawlānā illustrates the tension between rigid legalistic views and an ethical-mystical approach, where good intentions take precedence over mere rules.
• The threat of 'a hundred doors of suffering' emphasizes the seriousness of spiritual retribution and the cosmic repercussions of violating a divine vow.
• Mawlānā's storytelling often aims to teach ethical and spiritual truths, even if it does not strictly align with conventional fiqhi details.