M6:3162 — حق چو بخشش کرد بر اهل نیاز / با عطا بخشیدشان عمر دراز

Translation: When the Truth bestowed generosity upon the needy, / With that gift, He granted them long life. Meaning: This verse conveys that God's true gift to those in need is not merely material wealth, but a long and blessed life, imbued with enduring quality.

"When the Truth bestowed generosity upon the needy, / With that gift, He granted them long life." In this verse, Mowlana unveils his profound understanding of "rizq" (sustenance) and "bestowal." Prior to this, we spoke of the manifestation of the "reflection" (ʿaks) of God and our own selves in the world, and it was stressed that the generosity of the lowly, though seemingly more abundant than sand, is ultimately but an "inheritance" (mordeh-rig)—fleeting and unfaithful. These are all shadows and echoes; "how long does a reflection last in the sight?" One must cultivate "seeing the origin" (asl-bīni). Here, Mowlana addresses this origin, asserting that true and enduring bestowal comes from the Divine Truth (Haqq). The crucial point, however, is that this gift is not merely wealth or provisions, which most people mistake for sustenance. Mowlana expands the semantic horizon of "rizq" far beyond the material. Divine sustenance includes a long and blessed life; it encompasses good friends, noble thoughts, and a virtuous family. These are all invaluable and lasting forms of sustenance that flow from the original source of existence, from Haqq, to those in need. This gift, endowed with ʿatāʾ (generosity), is not a fleeting promise, but the granting of a life that inherently possesses durability and quality. It is for this reason that God is the "Reviver of the Dead" (Mūḥyī al-Mawtā) and one must hasten towards Him, for it is He alone who bestows true life and enduring meaning. This serves as a reminder for us to avert our gaze from deceptive appearances and look towards the true wellspring of all goodness and blessing.

Key takeaways

• God's true sustenance extends beyond material wealth; it includes blessings, quality of life, good friends, and noble thoughts.
• Divine bestowal, unlike transient and unreliable human gifts, is enduring and lasting.
• One must seek the 'origin' of generosity, not its 'reflection' or shadows in this world.
• A long and blessed life is itself a profound divine sustenance for those in need.