M6:22 — واحد کالالف کی بود آن ولی / بلک صد قرنست آن عبدالعلی

Translation: One is like a thousand, who was that saint (walī)? / Nay, it is a hundred ages, that Abdol-Ali. Meaning: This verse underscores the immense and unparalleled worth of a single divine saint or servant of God (Abdol-Ali), whose spiritual impact and presence are equivalent to that of thousands of individuals or even hundreds of generations, as they embody divine grace and generosity.

This verse emerges from Rumi's profound analogy of 'vinegar and honey' (serkeh-o-angabin), where he elucidates the divine balance of opposites—divine wrath (qahr) and divine grace (loṭf)—within the cosmos. Just as in the drink sekangebin, the sharpness of vinegar and the sweetness of honey blend to create a balanced and beneficial concoction, so too in the world are harshness and bitterness (divine wrath) intermingled with sweetness and gentleness (divine grace). The friends of God (awliyāʾ), among whom 'Abdol-Ali' stands as a general term for a pure and surrendered servant, are the very manifestation of this 'honey' of divine grace amidst the 'vinegar' of worldly opposition.

I have emphasized repeatedly that Rumi here posits a deep ontological point. A walī or Abdol-Ali is not merely an individual among many; they are like a 'jar' that is connected to the sea. In Rumi's own words, 'The jar that finds a path to the sea / Before it, all rivers will bend the knee.' Such a jar is no longer just a small container; it is the sea itself, manifested within a confined vessel. This walī is an unmediated conduit for God's infinite generosity and mercy, and therefore, their existential impact transcends mere quantitative counting.

Thus, when Rumi declares 'One is like a thousand' (Wāḥidun ka’l-alf), it signifies that the worth of one person is equivalent to thousands. He goes even further: 'Nay, it is a hundred ages, that Abdol-Ali' (Balkeh sad qarn ast ān Abdol-Ali), meaning that specific servant of God holds the significance and influence of hundreds of generations. The example of Prophet Noah, which Rumi presents just before this verse, perfectly illustrates this point; Noah, despite the abundant 'vinegar' (opposition) poured upon him by his people, drew strength from the 'sugar' (grace) of divine generosity and continued his mission. This 'sugar' is precisely the divine grace that flows through the walī, tempering the world's bitterness.

This is a crucial insight: such awliyāʾ are not only unaffected by the ocean of worldly wrath, but they themselves become a source of grace and life amidst hardships. They do not grow pale or bitter, for they are connected to a boundless ocean before which all other oceans feel abashed and ashamed. 'Especially this Ocean, which all other oceans / When they heard this example and clamor / Their mouths grew bitter from shame and embarrassment / That the Greatest Name was placed beside the least.' This Ocean of divine generosity is the unparalleled source of the 'Abdol-Ali's' power and authenticity, which elevates them to the stature of a hundred ages of humanity.

Key takeaways

• Divine saints embody God's grace (loṭf) amidst worldly wrath (qahr), playing a harmonizing role.
• The existential value of a divine saint is qualitative, not quantitative; one possesses the power of thousands or hundreds of generations.
• A divine saint is like a jar connected to the boundless ocean, becoming the ocean itself.
• Prophet Noah serves as an example of such an 'Abdol-Ali,' drawing strength from divine generosity despite widespread opposition.
• Connection to the infinite source of divine generosity enables the saints' steadfastness and ceaseless beneficence.