M6:564 — گر نیم لایق چه باشد گر دمی / ناسزایی را بپرسی در غمی

Translation: If I am not worthy, what would it matter if for a moment You would inquire about an undeserving one in sorrow? Meaning: The poet, here the embodiment of Rumi's own heart, asks his Beloved that even if he is unworthy of grace, what harm would it be if He were to inquire about this undeserving servant's state of sorrow.

This verse is an incandescent manifestation of Rumi's restless and anxious heart, no longer merely the voice of a captive bird, but undeniably his own impassioned utterance. The bird caught in the trap, which began its lament, is, without doubt, Rumi himself. He alludes to the “contradictions of the heart,” to that profound restlessness in the Beloved's separation that has “broken his back.” Then, with a humility that is also an act of spiritual courage, he turns towards the Divine Presence and asks: “If I am unworthy, what would it matter if for a moment / You would inquire about an undeserving one in sorrow?”

This is not merely a plea, but the articulation of a fundamental mystical principle. I, this earthly existence, this “undeserving one,” what merit did I possess that You showered me with Your infinite grace? This is the ancient, deeply rooted theme of the Masnavi: that creation and divine solicitude have never been conditional upon our worthiness. We, in our non-existence, had no claim to being, yet He opened the sea of His generosity upon nothingness. This verse, amidst that tumultuous restlessness, cries out this very truth: O Beloved, even if I am unworthy of Your affection and attention, what harm would there be if, for but a moment, You were to inquire about the state of this “undeserving one” who is immersed in Your sorrow and separation? This question is not posed to earn merit, but to open a window to His boundless generosity, for generosity differs from justice; justice gives according to desert, but generosity bestows without measure.

Rumi here, with striking clarity, portrays his own restlessness in the Beloved's separation, and simultaneously, his hope in unconditional divine grace. This lament is not born of despair, but of an infinite yearning that knows beyond separation, union and incomparable grace await. He seeks to tell us that separation is the path, not the end of the path; and on this path, even the most undeserving can, with hope in the Friend's generosity, journey towards the abode of union.

Key takeaways

• The verse is spoken by Rumi himself, addressing the Beloved through the metaphor of a captive bird.
• The core message is a plea for the Beloved's attention and inquiry into the lover's state, despite the lover's unworthiness.
• The verse underscores the fundamental mystical principle of 'unconditional divine grace,' where God's favor is not dependent on human merit.
• The lover's question is not to earn worthiness, but to open a channel to the Beloved's boundless and unconditional favor.
• Rumi's lament stems from restlessness and separation, yet it is a testament to his hope for union and incomparable divine generosity.