M6:3292 — لاجرم حقش دهد چوپانیی / بر فراز چرخ مه روحانیی

Translation: Consequently, God grants him the charge of shepherding, / Bestowing upon him a spiritual moon over the celestial sphere. Meaning: This verse asserts that in recompense for prophetic forbearance and patience, God confers the station of leadership and guardianship upon the worthy individual, simultaneously endowing them with a spiritual and celestial radiance.

Mowlana, in these verses, explicitly refers to the tradition of prophetic shepherding, a theme I have elaborated on previously concerning the attributes of prophets and leaders. The widely known Prophetic saying, “Kullukum rāʿin, wa kullukum masʾūlun ʿan raʿiyyatihi” (Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock), forms the bedrock of this discussion. For Mowlana, God does not bestow positions upon prophets and saints without first testing them through the act of shepherding and tending to a flock. This shepherding is not merely an exercise in command and prohibition; it is a profound test of character and breadth of spirit.

This responsibility demands waqār (dignity/steadfastness) and ṣabr (patience), as well as the endurance of jafā (injustice/cruelty) from humanity—something even the prophets themselves experienced. They must be servants, without expectation of reward. They must remain loyal even when confronted with treachery. They must support those who are even their adversaries, guiding the flock—the human community—safely to its true abode. Here, Mowlana's phrase “Moses-like forbearance” is critically important. When a sheep strays from the flock, the Mosaic shepherd pursues it, embraces it, caresses it, weeps for its exhaustion, and asks, “You showed no mercy to me; why did you show no mercy to yourself?” This is the essence of shepherding. A shepherd who beats, kills, or imposes mastery over his flock will soon find neither flock nor honor.

I must here highlight the profound difference between this perspective and certain contemporary notions of Velayat (guardianship) and leadership. Sa'di eloquently states: “A king who safeguards the welfare of the people, lawful be his tax, for it is the wage of shepherding. But if he does not see to the people’s welfare, may his sustenance be poison, for whatever he consumes is but the tax of Muslims.” Sa'di’s words, in essence, provide a criterion for judging the legitimacy of power: the ruler is the shepherd of the people, not their master. If he levies taxes, it is the wage for the service he renders to the people. This stands in stark contrast to the idea that a vali (guardian) is the 'master of the people' and not their 'representative.' For Mowlana, the shepherd must be a servant, not a landlord. He carries a great responsibility to guide this flock—the human society—to its intended destination, not to dominate it or impose his will upon it.

It is through such trials and with such forbearance and wisdom that God justly bestows upon an individual the station of shepherding. This includes not only earthly responsibility but also a “spiritual moon” (meh-e rūḥāni), signifying spiritual radiance and a divine glow over the celestial spheres. This earthly shepherding prepares them for the “shepherding of the chosen ones” (chupāni-e aṣfiyā), meaning leadership over God's special elect. This explains why even the Prophet of Islam engaged in shepherding during his youth, a tradition deeply rooted in the history of the prophets.

Key takeaways

• Divine leadership necessitates rigorous trials and dedicated shepherding.
• True shepherding embodies patience, forbearance, and service, not mastery or domination.
• The Mosaic model of leadership involves compassionate guidance, empathy, and returning the strayed.
• Mowlana's concept of 'chupāni' challenges notions of absolute, unaccountable authority.
• Earthly shepherding cultivates spiritual authority and radiance.