M6:3279 — گوسفندی از کلیم الله گریخت / پای موسی آبله شد نعل ریخت

Translation: A sheep escaped from Moses, Kalimullah (the one spoken to by God); Moses' feet blistered, his sandals fell apart as he pursued. Meaning: This verse recounts a tradition illustrating Moses' profound compassion for a lost sheep, to the point of physical exhaustion, which prepared him for prophethood and the shepherding of nations.

This verse is situated within a profoundly meaningful narrative in the Masnavi, one where Rumi first contrasts the limited, material generosity of human beings with the boundless, life-giving munificence of the Divine. Hatam Ta'i, though renowned for his generosity, ultimately 'gave dead to dead' — dispensing inanimate gold and silver to mortal individuals. In contrast, the Almighty bestows 'life in every breath,' a life that is an 'unadulterated and innumerable gold currency.' Within this larger framework, Rumi subtly points to specific qualities that elevate God's saints to the ranks of life-givers. Here, the discourse turns to Moses, Kalimullah, 'the one spoken to by God,' portraying him as the 'merciful shepherd' of creation, whose grace 'becomes the shepherd of creation against the wolf of sorrow.'

The story encapsulated in this verse is exceptionally tender and significant. As the late Professor Foruzanfar researched, this account is found primarily in Abu'l-Fażl Beyhaqī's Tarikh-e Beyhaqi rather than in common prophetic traditions, and it is likely Rumi's source was the same. The narrative unfolds with Moses, prior to attaining his prophetic stature and becoming Kalimullah, working as a shepherd. This very occupation became the proving ground for his future qualification.

In this story, a sheep strays from Moses' flock. Instead of responding with anger or indifference at the loss of a mere animal, Moses pursues it with his entire being. This pursuit is not born of mere duty, but of boundless compassion and kindness. He runs after the animal to such an extent that his feet become blistered, and his sandals (naʿl) fall apart and are ruined. It is here that we can discern the depth of Rumi's perspective. The significance of Moses being Kalimullah is doubly emphasized. The very one with whom God spoke directly, 'and God spoke to Moses, speaking.' This exalted status of Kalimullah is intrinsically linked to this boundless compassion for a humble creature. It is through such profound empathy and responsibility towards a lost sheep that God deems him worthy to shepherd nations and to converse with Him face-to-face. This event symbolizes the principle that leadership and divine connection stem not from force or coercion, but from mercy and compassion. Moses, in this stage, prepares to be the 'merciful shepherd' of creation, liberating them from the 'wolf of sorrow.'

Key takeaways

• Compassion for all beings is a core criterion for spiritual leadership.
• Prior to his prophethood, Moses (PBUH) demonstrated his readiness to shepherd nations through his boundless empathy for a single lost sheep.
• The title 'Kalimullah' (one spoken to by God) for Moses (PBUH) is intertwined with this scene of kindness; divine connection begins with mercy.
• This narrative illustrates that spiritual stations are earned through ethical and practical trials, not merely theoretical knowledge.