M4:1858 — زان جرای خاص هر که آگاه شد / او سزای قرب و اجری‌گاه شد

This beyt appears in a section discussing the 'food of God' for the Sufi. Rumi contrasts the material hunger of an ordinary person with the spiritual 'hunger' of a Sufi. The preceding couplets speak of the joy a Sufi feels when material sustenance is scarce, because it transforms their 'doubt' (شبهه) into 'pearls' (دُرّ) and makes them like a 'sea' (یم). This signifies that deprivation in the material world can lead to profound spiritual enrichment.

In this context, the 'special provision' (جرای خاص) is not physical food, but divine grace, spiritual insight, or the hidden sustenance that nourishes the soul. It is a provision that is not always obvious to the uninitiated. The one who becomes 'aware' (آگاه شد) of this special grace, who perceives its true nature and value, is then deemed 'worthy of proximity' (سزای قرب) to God. 'Proximity' (قرب) in Sufi thought refers to a state of intimate union and closeness with the Divine, a station of profound spiritual realization.

The 'place of reward' (اجری‌گاه) further emphasizes the elevated status attained. This is not a reward in the conventional sense of worldly recompense, but rather the inherent spiritual blessing and elevated rank that comes from recognizing and living by this divine, subtle sustenance. The beyt thus highlights a fundamental Sufi principle: true richness lies not in material abundance, but in the recognition and appreciation of spiritual blessings, which in turn leads to divine favor and closeness.