M6:1840 — هم‌چو آن شخصی که روزی حلال / از خدا می‌خواست بی‌کسب و کلال

Translation: Just like that person who lawful sustenance From God was seeking, without effort or weariness. Meaning: This verse refers to the story of a man who asked God for lawful sustenance without any effort, and how his request ultimately led to an event that unveiled hidden truths.

This verse, located in the middle of Book Six of the Masnavi, refers back to a story Mowlana had recounted earlier in Book Three—a rare occurrence in Mowlana's literary style. I have often observed that Mowlana rarely refers to the past or explicitly cites his previous statements. Like a flowing river, he constantly moves forward, not bound by revision or cross-referencing his earlier pronouncements. This is Mowlana's 'ever-renewing' quality; he perpetually renews himself, changing the garments of his thought and spirit daily, engaging in new contemplation. This verse is one of his few self-references, where he recalls 'Just like that person who…'. This refusal to look back or revise indicates that the Masnavi and his ghazals are not the result of Hafez-like craftsmanship, but rather the uninterrupted surge of cardiac revelation and continuous inspiration, which neither tolerates nor requires review; its perfection lies precisely in this 'ever-renewing' and 'melody-like' quality.

The story of this person concerns the time of Prophet David. The man desired lawful sustenance from God without needing to work or endure hardship. One day, a cow unexpectedly entered his house, and believing his prayer answered, he slaughtered and ate it. However, the story doesn't end there; the cow's owner appeared and brought a complaint before Prophet David. David's justice was ladunni, meaning it originated from divine knowledge, not from outward evidence or witnesses. This particularity of David ensured that, in the course of investigating the dispute, hidden truths would be revealed: it turned out that the cow's owner was the slave of the man's father, and had killed the father and buried his body in a certain place. This seemingly insignificant event ultimately led to the exposure of an ancient crime. Mowlana uses this tale to illustrate the unintended consequences of prayers and the complexities of divine workings; a prayer, seemingly for effortless lawful sustenance, led to the unraveling of truths of which the man was unaware.

I have repeatedly stated that prayer is an expression of servitude, not an instrument for life. We have three types of prayer: supplicatory, laudatory, and worshipful. People often confine prayer solely to the supplicatory type, expecting every desire to be immediately granted. However, this is incompatible with the custom of lovers and mysticism. God has not promised to answer all prayers, and sometimes a delay in response holds deeper wisdom; perhaps He wishes to hear the servant's voice more, so that the conversation may continue. Perhaps through that very prayer, other truths are revealed to them. This is precisely what happened to the man seeking sustenance: a simple request, but a complex and hidden response that ultimately led to the uncovering of other realities.

Following this verse and story, Mowlana shifts the discussion to God's attributes of 'Lowering' (Khafid) and 'Raising' (Rafi'). The entire cosmos is a stage for khafd and rafʿ; contraction and expansion, casting down and lifting up. Just as on the Day of Judgment some will be lowered and others raised, in this world too, from the heavens and earth to the changing seasons, the humors of the human temperament, and even the peace and war of epochs—all are subject to this ebb and flow and transformation. This story of the man seeking sustenance was ultimately an instance of this divine khafd and rafʿ, which initially brought the man apparent elevation and fortune (the cow), but then confronted him with lowering (the exposure of his past). All of this is a lesson for us not to expect mere transaction from prayer, but to recognize it as a portal for understanding hidden realms and for pure servitude.

Key takeaways

• Mowlana rarely refers back to his past statements; this infrequent reference underscores his 'ever-renewing' stylistic approach.
• In Mowlana's view, prayer is not a tool for obtaining worldly desires, but an expression of servitude and sincere devotion.
• Delays in the answering of prayers may be divine wisdom, intended for the supplicant to engage more in dialogue with the Beloved and for deeper truths to be revealed.
• The story of the man seeking sustenance illustrates how seemingly fortunate events (answered prayer) can serve as a means to uncover deeper, hidden realities (an ancient crime).
• Prophet David's 'ladunni' justice symbolizes judgment based on divinely inspired knowledge, uncovering truths beyond superficial evidence.