M6:4235 — مرد میراثی چو خورد و شد فقیر / آمد اندر یا رب و گریه و نفیر

Translation: The man of inheritance, when he spent and became poor, He came to 'O Lord' with weeping and wailing. Meaning: This verse speaks of an heir who squandered his inherited wealth, fell into poverty, and in his destitution, turned to God with fervent prayers and lamentations.

This verse marks our entry into a tale where Rumi speaks of a man who inherited vast wealth. He possessed countless riches but squandered them unwisely, ultimately finding himself destitute. Here lies the turning point of the narrative: only when he lost all his worldly possessions and plumbed the depths of poverty did he genuinely turn to the reality of 'Yā Rabb' (O Lord). This cry of 'Yā Rabb' signifies a complete abandonment of false pride and self-sufficiency, a profound turning towards true helplessness and sincere need. As we observe, he not only utters 'Yā Rabb' but accompanies it with 'weeping and wailing' (girya va nafīr); that is, from the depths of his being, with his entire soul, he pleads for assistance.

Rumi, at this juncture, introduces a subtle point concerning the answering of prayers. He states that God's response to supplications is not always direct. Sometimes, the answer is delayed, and at other times, it manifests indirectly, appearing as hidden guidance. In all these instances, there is an underlying wisdom and expediency that, whether the supplicant comprehends it or not, ultimately works for their good. This man of inheritance, after his desperate plea, hears an unseen voice in a dream. A call from a hātif (a mythical entity or a voice from the unseen, a term used in Arabic literature and even for the telephone today) that summons him to Egypt, towards a hidden treasure. Here, the hātif symbolizes that indirect, guiding divine response. This experience teaches us that sometimes destitution and the loss of everything worldly can become a gateway to another kind of richness – spiritual abundance and a deeper connection with the Divine Reality.

Key takeaways

• Poverty and destitution can serve as a catalyst for a sincere return to God.
• The desperate cry of 'Yā Rabb' symbolizes a profound existential need and sincerity in prayer.
• Divine answers to prayers are not always direct; hidden wisdom lies in their delay or unexpected forms.
• The loss of material wealth can lead one to seek spiritual richness.
• The story underscores the importance of surrender and trust in divine will during moments of despair.