M1:828 — اشک خواهی رحم کن بر اشک‌ْبار / رحم خواهی بر ضعیفان رحمْ آر

This beyt appears in a section where Rumi is discussing the importance of humility, repentance, and the spiritual benefits of weeping. He has just described how tears, like flowing water, bring forth greenery, symbolizing spiritual growth and divine mercy. The previous couplet (M1:827) urged the reader to be like a 'wailing waterwheel' with 'wet eyes' so that 'greenery' may sprout from the 'courtyard of your soul.'

Building on this imagery, M1:828 provides a direct ethical instruction. Rumi posits a clear causal link: if you desire the spiritual state of 'tears' (which in Sufism often signifies a state of deep longing, remorse, and connection to the Divine, leading to inner purification), then you must first be merciful to those who are already tearful or suffering. Similarly, if you seek God's 'mercy' upon yourself, you must actively 'show mercy to the weak.' This is not merely a moral platitude but a profound Sufi principle: the inner state is reflected in outward action, and the path to receiving divine grace often lies in embodying that grace towards others. It emphasizes that compassion is not just a virtue but a means to spiritual attainment.