M6:3534 — وام دارد از ذهب او نه هزار / وام را از بعض این گو بر گزار

Translation: He owes nine thousand in gold; Tell him to pay the debt from some of this.

Meaning: This verse records the instruction of a deceased nobleman to an intermediary: to use a portion of his hidden wealth to settle a substantial debt owed by a poor friend, thereby alleviating his financial burden.

Here, Rumi, through the voice of a deceased nobleman (the khwāja) who appears in a dream to an intermediary (paymard), issues an instruction: to settle the substantial debt of his impoverished friend. The khwāja specifies that the friend owes "nine thousand" gold, an exorbitant sum in that era, one that would undoubtedly crush him. He then commands: "Tell him to pay the debt from some of this (wealth)," referring to his hidden treasures. Later in the narrative, the khwāja even clarifies that the jewels he has set aside are "more than his debt," and the surplus, too, should be given to the friend to spare him distress and a "wounded heart"; even if the friend refuses it, the wealth still belongs to him, and it should be left at his doorstep for anyone to take.

I, Abdolkarim Soroush, pause here to underscore a critical point: this narrative diverges significantly from established Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), particularly Shi'i fiqh. As you know, in fiqh, a deceased person's will is legally enforceable only up to one-third of their estate, and this is only after all prior debts have been settled. Furthermore, a dream holds no legal authority whatsoever in fiqh. Yet, in Rumi's story, the khwāja not only bequeaths his entire wealth for this debt and to aid his friend but also imparts such detailed instructions through a mere dream.

This is a profoundly important nuance. Rumi, in this instance, unmistakably prioritizes the ethical and mystical dimensions of generosity and spiritual guardianship (wilāya) over strict legal adherence. He demonstrates to us that in the realm of meaning and spiritual journeying, ethical virtues can occasionally transcend rigid juridical frameworks. The khwāja, who had vowed to God that not a single grain of his wealth would return to him or his family, embodies an absolute selflessness and magnanimity, rooted in love and devotion to God's creatures. This act of giving is not merely to settle a friend's debt; it is to alleviate his sorrow, preserve his honor, and ensure his well-being, even if the friend himself is reluctant to accept the bounty. This tale paints a picture of a form of spiritual care and empathy where the boundaries of property and ownership, and even those of life and death, dissolve before the flood of compassion and noble generosity.

Key takeaways

• Ethical virtue and heartfelt generosity can transcend the strictures of legalistic rulings.
• Rumi often prioritizes spiritual and human values over rigid, external laws.
• Assistance to fellow beings should be unconditional, extending beyond their apparent needs.
• The verse emphasizes the deceased nobleman's enduring concern for his friend's suffering, even after death.
• Fidelity to vows and pledges, even conveyed through dreams, holds spiritual weight and commands execution.