M6:1317 — دوست گیری چیزها را از اثر / پس چرا ز آثاربخشی بی‌خبر

Translation: You befriend things based on their effects, so why remain unaware of the Giver of these effects? Meaning: This verse challenges us to reflect on our selective reasoning: we form relationships and make judgments based on the effects of things in daily life, yet we often neglect to acknowledge and connect with the ultimate Source of all effects.

As humans, we rarely base our relationships, whether friendship or enmity, purely on logical argumentation. It is our nature to judge and form connections based on effects, appearances, and our inner feelings. With his characteristic insight, Rumi asks: if this logic is operative in our human interactions and even in our engagement with the material world—for instance, when we walk down the street, we presume the ground beneath our feet is firm and won't collapse; or when we visit a doctor, we presume they are knowledgeable and benevolent until proven otherwise—then why do we not apply this same 'presumption' (بنا نهادن) to God? I contend that no one needs to logically prove God's existence to you; it is a 'presumption' and a 'basis'. Presume that there is a God, that this world has a manager, that a hand is behind the curtain, and that He loves you. Establish a connection with Him, speak to Him, befriend Him. Millions of people throughout history have lived by this 'presumption,' finding a home that provided them with security and meaning. This home has been their physical and spiritual homeland, ordering their interactions. When a person genuinely befriends God and firmly establishes this 'presumption' within their soul, they become overflowing with this experience. Like a poor, destitute person who finds a treasure and wishes to shout it to everyone, or prophets who, from the intensity of their own experience, desire to share it with others. This is no longer avarice, but pure generosity. Friendship with the Generous God transmits generosity to the human being. They, too, become like a sea (دریاصفت), bestowing jewels upon those nearby and rain upon those far away.

Key takeaways

• Judging by Effects: Humans naturally form affections and relationships based on the observed effects and outcomes of things.
• Overlooking the Source: This inherent human tendency often leads us to overlook the Creator and ultimate Source of all these effects.
• Life Built on Presumption: Our daily existence is fundamentally built upon assumptions and presumptions (e.g., trusting the ground beneath our feet or a doctor's competence).
• Applying Presumption to the Divine: Rumi urges us to extend this same principle of "presuming" to God, befriending Him based on this foundational trust.
• Overflowing Desire to Share: One who truly befriends God becomes overwhelmed by this experience and feels an intense desire to introduce this Beloved to others.
• Divine Generosity Reflected: Befriending the Generous God imbues the seeker with generosity, prompting them to share this profound experience.