M6:2011 — در دل که لعل‌ها دلال تست / باغها از خنده مالامال تست

Translation: In the heart, where rubies are your intermediaries, Gardens are overflowing with your laughter.

Meaning: This verse articulates that even the most precious gems within the human heart act merely as brokers to reveal the beauty and grandeur of the Beloved, whose presence fills the entire world with joy and delight.

This verse, found in the sixth book of the Masnavi, is an exceptionally sublime and majestic expression that Rumi employs in praise and devotion to Husam al-Din Chalabi. I state unequivocally that, with these descriptions, Rumi, as it were, clothes Husam al-Din in divine attributes; a matter that astonished many contemporaries and even drove some to envy and distress. Rumi clearly saw that these commendations stemmed not from flattery, but from the depths of profound spiritual insight.

I have repeatedly emphasized in my lectures that when Rumi speaks of the 'heart' where 'rubies are your intermediaries,' he means that even the most precious gems and inner insights, like rubies, act merely as intermediaries and brokers before the grandeur and beauty of Husam al-Din. This alludes to Husam al-Din's unparalleled capacity to manifest the divine meanings and truths that Rumi himself carried. It is as if our most exquisite feelings and inner knowledge themselves point to Husam al-Din; he had attained such a centrality in Rumi's epistemological system that all inner perfections signified him.

This praise transcends mere description. Rumi here refers to the 'laughter of gardens' and 'gardens overflowing with your laughter,' a concept he deeply cherished. Laughter in the Masnavi often symbolizes profound joy, triumph over sorrow, and a state of spiritual bliss. 'Gardens are overflowing with your laughter' means that Husam al-Din's presence possesses such splendor and beauty that it fills all of nature, with all its perfections, with existential laughter and exhilaration. These attributes depict the figure of a true seeker and an accomplished human being whose existence is a fount of grace and joy, capable of leading others to such a blessed state.

Recall the discussion of 'shepherding' that Rumi introduces concerning prophets and just rulers; a Moses-like shepherding that serves the flock with patience and wisdom. This commendation of Husam al-Din effectively places him in a position that exemplifies the perfections of a 'true shepherd'; one who, with sagacity, virtue, and selflessness, safely guides people to their ultimate destination, and whose enemies are blinded by the radiance of his being. This verse is part of a series of lines Rumi uses to defend Husam al-Din against detractors and envious individuals who questioned his status due to his youth or apparent lack of traditional scholarly credentials. With these expressions, Rumi demonstrates that his criterion for judging people is not external appearances or white beards, but their inner essence and being, which were manifested in Husam al-Din in the most sublime manner.

Key takeaways

• This verse offers profound praise for Husam al-Din Chalabi, to whom Rumi attributes exalted qualities.
• 'Rubies are your intermediaries' signifies that even the most precious gems and inner insights merely act as brokers to reveal the Beloved's grandeur.
• 'Gardens are overflowing with your laughter' points to the Beloved's profound joy and existential bliss, which permeates the entire world with grace and delight.
• These encomiums served as Rumi's defense of Husam al-Din against critics who prioritized outward appearances over intrinsic spiritual essence.
• Rumi here reveals his own criteria for valuing individuals: inner essence and being, rather than age or external status.