M6:3017 — ور بکردی ذره‌ای را مشرقی / بودی آن در همتش نالایقی

Translation: And if he were to make a zarra (particle) a mashriq (sunrise/sun), that too would be deemed unworthy in his himmat (generosity/high resolve). Meaning: This verse illustrates the immeasurable generosity and lofty ambition of the Muhtasib of Tabriz, Badr ad-Din Omar, who considered even the most extraordinary acts of giving to be beneath his own magnanimous spirit.

This verse describes the Muhtasib of Tabriz, Badr ad-Din Omar, whom Mowlana praises for his boundless generosity and unparalleled aspiration (himmat). We are speaking of a character whose benevolence was such that even Hatam-e Tai, the legendary generous man, would have become a beggar at his door. The crucial point here is to grasp the depth and breadth of this himmat, which knows no bounds for its magnanimity. Mowlana is portraying a figure who operates beyond any conventional ceiling or measure.

Mowlana uses the word zarra with profound insight. Zarra in Persian has two common meanings, both of which can be intended here and enrich the verse's significance. First, it means an ant or a very small creature, a meaning rooted in the name Abu Dharr al-Ghifari. Second, and perhaps more vividly here, it refers to the dust motes dancing in a sunbeam; those insignificant, tiny particles that become bright and luminous when illuminated by the sun. Now, imagine the Muhtasib transforming this insignificant zarra into a mashriq; that is, turning it into a full-fledged sun, a source of light, warmth, and existence. This is a miracle of generosity: creating existence from nothingness, and grandeur from insignificance.

However, Mowlana emphasizes that even such a miracle, in the eyes of this noble Muhtasib, would be considered nā-lāyeqi — unworthy or insufficient. This expression indicates that his himmat and his proximity to God are so boundless that no worldly action, not even a miracle, could be truly worthy of his expansive spirit. Whatever he gave, it always seemed little to him; not out of arrogance, but out of the infinite capacity of his being for goodness and giving. He was immersed in the sea of divine bounty, and every drop he gave seemed insignificant compared to that limitless ocean. This manifests Tawhid-e Af'āli (unity of divine actions); where the servant becomes so connected to the origin of existence that their action becomes a mirror of the absolute divine action, and thus, no limit can be conceived for it. This depiction of himmat is, in essence, a portrayal of self-transcendence and annihilation in the Truth (God), where the individual no longer perceives their own limitations but rather sees themselves as a channel for divine grace. In this state, whatever one does seems little, for the source of this bounty is without limit.

Key takeaways

• Himmat here signifies boundless generosity and lofty spiritual aspirations, knowing no limits.
• The Muhtasib of Tabriz embodies a human ideal that acts beyond human expectation, considering no act of generosity sufficient for his spirit.
• Zarra alludes to both an ant and dust motes illuminated by sunlight; symbolizing the transformation of the most humble into the most grand.
• Even a miracle like turning a particle into a sun is deemed unworthy by this himmat, as its source of bounty is infinite.
• This verse exemplifies Tawhid-e Af'āli, where the servant's action mirrors the limitless divine action.
• Figures like the Muhtasib are immersed in the ocean of divine bounty, and their actions stem from this boundless connection.