M6:2176 — مانع باران مباش و آفتاب / تا بدان مرسل شدند امت شتاب

Translation: Do not hinder the rain and the sun, / Until, by that, the community rushed forth in haste. Meaning: This verse recounts a Quranic narrative where, by divine command, natural blessings like rain and sun turn into severe torment, causing the people to rush to their prophet in desperation for mercy.

I read this verse within the context of the story of the "Day of Abasement" (Yawm al-Dhilla) and the people of Shu'ayb, where divine wrath transforms natural blessings into afflictions. Earlier in these verses, Rumi instructs us on how the divine command can turn life-sustaining bread into a choking hazard or warm clothing into icy torment. This verse is precisely in the same vein: "Do not hinder the rain and the sun." It means, allow these two natural elements to perform their function unimpeded. But not in a way that consistently brings good, rather in a manner that, in this instance, brings calamity and suffering.

The divine command is issued: "Do not give shade to houses and walls," and following that, "Do not hinder the rain and the sun." This implies that God can transform elements that are typically life-giving and merciful for humanity into instruments of torment. Rain can bring floods, and the sun can bring drought and scorching heat. This is the same key point I referred to in the interpretation of the verse: "You are not two jugs, you are one jug / Unaware of the story of abasement's torment." An ordinary human, unlike the soul of divine saints which is like "karr water" (a large volume of water that cannot be easily defiled) and is never polluted by impurity or a carcass in the sea, is a mere "jug" (qulla)—a small vessel. Being "one jug" means that humans are mortal and limited, possessing the capacity to be "defiled" or afflicted.

When God manifests wrath, everything can rebel against humanity. This verse depicts the culmination of such a rebellion. The people were so tormented by the lack of shade, the scorching heat, and perhaps the flooding rain that "the community rushed forth in haste"—meaning, they hastened with utter panic towards their prophet, Shu'ayb, pleading: "We are mostly dead, O leader, grant us mercy!" The phrase "the community rushed forth in haste" itself conveys the severity of the catastrophe; it is as if the people were dispatched towards their only refuge, the prophet, to be saved from this relentless natural wrath. Rumi adds here: "Read the rest from the book of commentary," indicating that this story is drawn from the wellspring of the Quran and its interpretations. Therefore, this verse is not merely a poetic image but a profound reminder of human helplessness before divine wrath and the truth that no blessing is inherent; everything can change its character in divine decree.

Key takeaways

• Natural blessings, under divine wrath, can transform into instruments of torment, as exemplified by rain and sun.
• The concept of the "Day of Abasement" highlights human powerlessness before absolute divine command.
• Unlike the souls of divine saints, which are like "karr water" (undefilable), ordinary humans are "one jug" and vulnerable to divine decree.
• The community's hasty rush to their prophet signifies the peak of their desperation and the severity of their torment.
• This verse underscores the Quranic truth that no blessing is inherent; anything can take on a different color and function in divine providence.