M6:3546 — زانچ دادم باز نستانم نقیر / سوی پستان باز ناید هیچ شیر

Translation: What I have given, I shall not reclaim a single naqīr (tiny bit); Milk, once expressed, never returns to the breast. Meaning: This verse underscores that a true gift is irrevocable; what is given away cannot be taken back, just as milk that has flowed from the breast cannot re-enter it.

I hold that in this verse, Rumi puts forth a moral and spiritual point that transcends conventional jurisprudential rulings. Here, he recounts the tale of a noble (khwāja) who, even after his demise, insists on the irrevocability of a gift earmarked for settling a friend's debt. The khwāja, appearing in a dream to a mediator, states that not only must the wealth be delivered entirely to his friend, but even if the friend refuses it, it should be left for others to take; for "What I have given, I shall not reclaim a single naqīr."

The word "naqīr", also found in the Holy Quran, denotes the smallest and most insignificant thing – akin to the thin thread on the back of a date stone. Rumi asserts that from what he has bestowed, he will not take back even that negligible naqīr. This expression signifies the perfection of generosity and the selfless nature of giving.

He then solidifies this principle with a vivid simile: "Milk, once expressed, never returns to the breast." Just as milk, once drawn from the udder, cannot re-enter its source, so too should wealth given with pure intention not be reclaimed. This analogy beautifully conveys the one-sided and irreversible nature of true generosity.

Furthermore, Rumi alludes to a prophetic Hadith, significant in Islamic ethics and jurisprudence: "Al-ʿāʾid fī hibatihi kal-kalbi yaʿūdu fī qayʾihi" – meaning, "He who takes back his gift is like a dog that returns to its vomit." While in Shiʿa jurisprudence, reclaiming a gift is permitted under certain conditions (e.g., if the gifted property has not been altered), Rumi here emphasizes the ethical and spiritual dimension of the matter. He aims to convey that in the realm of spiritual conduct and the path of the sincere, retracting gifts is a grave and reprehensible act, stemming from base and worldly intentions. This narrative is a lesson in magnanimity and spiritual liberation, urging one to be free from any covetousness towards worldly possessions, even those one has given away. For those on the path of meaning, giving is a definitive act, and hoping for its return is considered a flaw in the spirit and intention.

Key takeaways

• True generosity is irrevocable; what is given away cannot be reclaimed.
• The term "naqīr" symbolizes the smallest, most insignificant item, emphasizing that in complete giving, even this should not be sought back.
• The simile of "expressed milk" underscores the one-sided and irreversible nature of the act of giving.
• Rumi here emphasizes the ethical and spiritual dimension of generosity, transcending mere legalistic interpretations.
• The Prophetic Hadith equating reclaiming a gift to a dog returning to its vomit highlights the profound disapproval of such an act in Islamic ethics.
• This verse serves as a lesson in spiritual magnanimity and freedom from avarice, even concerning what one has personally bestowed.