M6:3264 — ای فقیران را عشیره و والدین / در خراج و خرج و در ایفاء دین

Translation: O, you who were kin and parents to the poor, / In taxes, expenditures, and fulfilling their debts. Meaning: This verse praises a deceased benefactor, depicting them as family and parents to the impoverished, who assisted them with taxes, daily expenses, and the repayment of their obligations.

This couplet is part of a moving elegy composed by Rumi in lamentation of a great benefactor and patron. It is here that the depth of devotion and gratitude for a generous and compassionate individual reaches its zenith.

The address, "O, you who were kin and parents to the poor," is not merely a verbal commendation; it signifies a profound existential bond. This expression reveals that the benefactor rushed to the aid of the needy not only with a giving hand but with a soul overflowing with compassion. For the poor, they ascended beyond a mere charitable giver, assuming the role of ʿashīra (close relatives) and vālideyn (parents). This implies they provided a familial refuge and unconditional support, much like what a father or mother offers their children—a support rooted in a deep connection and a profound sense of responsibility for the existence of others.

The phrase "in taxes and expenditures" refers to two crucial aspects of the financial lives of the impoverished. Kharāj (or kharājāt) denotes taxes and levies collected from people, while kharj signifies daily costs and ordinary living expenses. Here, Rumi profoundly illustrates the breadth of the benefactor's actions, involved both in alleviating the heavy burdens of state taxes from the shoulders of the poor and in providing for their daily sustenance and ongoing living costs. It is noteworthy that the words kharāj and kharj, often mistakenly thought to be derived from the Arabic root khurūj (to exit), actually have a Greek origin, akin to today's "charge"; this linguistic detail underscores the depth of scholarship, even amidst Rumi's poetry.

However, the pinnacle of this support becomes evident in "īfā-yi dayn"—fulfilling debts. This type of assistance not only addresses material needs but also restores the dignity and honor of individuals, freeing them from the shackles of debt and profound worry. When a person is not compelled to bow their head or risk their reputation to repay debts, the very meaning of life transforms for them.

This benefactor extended their benevolence in a manner that can be likened to the divine concepts of rizq-i ʿām (general sustenance) and rizq-i khāṣṣ (specific sustenance). Just as God spreads general sustenance to all (like the sun shining equally on dry and green branches) and bestows specific sustenance according to the unique talents and capacities of His chosen ones, this patron attended to both general needs (such as taxes and expenditures) and deeper, more specific requirements (such as debt fulfillment). In the verse immediately following this one (M6:3265), Rumi compares this boundless generosity to an ocean that grants pearls to those nearby and, through rain, extends its grace to distant lands. This couplet (M6:3264) serves as a practical manifestation and detailed account of that boundless, ocean-like generosity, encompassing both near and far, apparent and hidden; an encompassing beneficence that bestows life and dignity upon the needy.

Key takeaways

• True philanthropy extends beyond mere giving; it embodies kinship and guardianship for the needy.
• Support for the impoverished encompasses diverse financial aspects, from taxes and daily expenses to debt repayment.
• Authentic generosity mirrors the Divine's universal and specific sustenance, addressing both general and profound, specific needs.
• Assisting in debt repayment not only alleviates financial burdens but also restores the dignity and human honor of the needy.
• The benefactor's benevolence, like an ocean, provides aid to both those nearby (directly) and those far (indirectly).