M6:3543 — وارثانم را سلام من بگو / وین وصیت را بگو هم مو به مو

Translation: Relay my greetings to my heirs, / And tell them this will, word for word. Meaning: The deceased, in a dream, instructs the intermediary to convey his greetings to his heirs and to meticulously relay his will to them.

This verse emerges from the heart of a profound story in the Masnavi, where Mawlana recounts, through the voice of a deceased nobleman (khwaja) speaking to an intermediary in a dream. This khwaja remains faithful to his divine covenant in life, at death, and beyond, insisting on the purity of his benevolent intention. Here, the khwaja instructs the intermediary not only to convey his greetings to his heirs but also to relay his will mu be mu – word for word, meticulously. This emphasis on precision itself holds a key significance; it implies that the words of the will carry a truth that must not be distorted.

The essence of this will, which Mawlana elaborates on later in the story and which I have discussed previously, revolves around complete and irrevocable giving. The khwaja explains to the intermediary that he has vowed that nothing from the wealth set aside for the poor debtor or other needy individuals should ever return to him or his family. It is here that Mawlana invites me to contemplate an apparent contradiction between fiqh (jurisprudence) and ethics. From a fiqhi perspective, in Shi'i jurisprudence (and I believe also in Sunni fiqh), a person can only bequeath one-third of their wealth, and that only after debts are settled. Heirs have the right to divide the remaining assets according to inheritance laws, and a will exceeding one-third is not legally binding. However, in this story, the khwaja squanders all his wealth, instructing that even if the debtor does not want it, it should be poured outside his door for anyone to take.

I interpret this as an un-fiqhi statement, stemming from a dream that carries no legal authority, yet Mawlana deliberately narrates it to elevate the ethical dimension beyond rigid fiqhi rulings. This story demonstrates that an individual's divine intention and covenant, in Mawlana's view, sometimes acquire such sanctity that they outweigh fiqhi technicalities. The khwaja even sternly warns his heirs against tampering with these funds, stating that if they take anything, they shall suffer twenty times the loss and a hundred doors of affliction shall open upon them. This threat underscores the depth of the khwaja's commitment to his vow and the seriousness of this ethical will in Mawlana's perspective.

Another crucial point in this will is the khwaja's emphasis on not reclaiming gifts: What I have given, I shall not reclaim even a speck / Milk does not return to the breast. He even alludes to a tradition attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, who reportedly said: The one who reclaims his gift is like a dog that returns to its vomit. Although from a fiqhi standpoint, a gift or endowment is generally revocable as long as it has not been altered or used by the recipient, ethically, reclaiming a gift is condemned and deemed repugnant. Mawlana here unequivocally sides with ethics and pure intention, crafting a narrative that prioritizes these values over fiqhi particulars. This move illustrates that for Mawlana, the spirit of an action and a covenant with God sometimes transcends legal frameworks and retains its profound spiritual worth.

Key takeaways

• The khwaja's will in this story symbolizes an unconditional commitment to a covenant with God, transcending mere jurisprudential rules.
• Mawlana deliberately prioritizes the ethical dimensions of fulfilling vows and irrevocable giving over strict fiqhi injunctions.
• The khwaja's warning to his heirs highlights the moral importance of not reclaiming gifts and the spiritual harm of interfering with designated charitable funds.
• Mawlana uses this narrative to emphasize heartfelt generosity and complete giving, even in the face of the recipient's potential refusal.
• The instruction to relay the will word for word stresses the importance of precision and non-distortion of the original message, even if originating from a dream.