M2:2440 — مشتری من خدایست او مرا / می‌کشد بالا که الله اشتری

This couplet comes from a section where Rumi is distinguishing between different kinds of 'buyers' or 'customers' for knowledge and spiritual endeavor. Earlier verses criticize those who seek knowledge for worldly gain, comparing them to a mouse seeking holes in the ground rather than the light. In contrast, the speaker here asserts that his 'customer' is not the fickle, worldly crowd, but God Himself. The phrase "الله اشتری" (Allah ishtarā) directly references Quran 9:111, which states: "Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties in exchange for Paradise." This verse is central to Sufi thought, signifying a divine transaction where the believer surrenders their self and possessions to God in return for eternal spiritual reward. Thus, the speaker sees himself as part of this divine bargain, being drawn upwards by God, implying a journey of spiritual ascent and purification, far removed from mundane motivations.