M6:3800 — هم‌چو خورشید و چو ماه پاک‌باز / آنچ گیرند از ضیا بدهند باز

Translation: Like the pure-gambler sun and moon, Whatever light they receive, they give it back.

Meaning: This verse describes unconditional and selfless generosity, where the giver holds no expectation of return, but rather, receives all sustenance from a higher source and bestows it without reservation.

This verse presents one of Rumi's most profound allegories for selfless and generous giving. He calls the sun and moon "pākbāz" – a loaded term meaning both 'to stake one's entire being' and 'to give purely, without expectation.' And here lies Rumi's core insight: pure giving means not only having no expectation of reward, but also no anticipation of any return whatsoever. The sun and moon exemplify this. They possess no inherent light to radiate; they are sustained by God. They receive light from the infinite source of light and immediately, without a moment's hesitation, without the slightest doubt or calculation, return it to the world.

This vividly illustrates the 'unity of divine actions' (tawḥīd-e afʿāl) that consistently permeates Rumi's discourse. The "light of light of light of light..." we encounter in his poetry refers precisely to this: layers of light, each nourished by an ultimate source, and each layer generously bestowing upon the next, without obligation. The sun does not hesitate whether to shine or not; it doesn't calculate when to give light and when not to. Rumi's own declaration, "lā tumār ash-shams fī tawḍīḥihā" (the sun does not doubt its illumination), speaks to this truth. This giving is neither out of compulsion nor greed. It is the very essence of chivalry (futuvvat), generosity (karam), and absolute love, just as God Himself is the Absolutely Generous, and His prophets declared, "lā as'alukum ʿalayhi ajran" (I ask no reward from you for it). Like the sun and moon, they too, without any recompense, bestowed upon the visible world whatever they received from the invisible realm.

Rumi goes even further, alluding to the ultimate fate of the sun itself. In the process of radiating light and warmth, the sun gradually expends itself, moving towards annihilation. This is the ultimate "pākbāzi"; giving to the point of non-existence. Rumi connects this end to the mystic's 'annihilation' (fanā), where the ultimate perfection of a seeker is to become annihilated in the Beloved. Just as the sun sacrifices itself by giving light, here we grasp the depth of this allegory: the sun and moon are not merely external manifestations, but rather, embody a profound mystical truth – a generosity that entails self-negation. Even ancient beliefs held that gold and precious stones in the earth were products of the sun's rays; this reference further emphasizes the pervasive and unconditional impact of the sun's giving, which leaves its mark even in the deepest soil.

Key takeaways

• True generosity is selfless and expects no return, mirroring the light-giving of the sun and moon.
• God is the ultimate source of all giving; the sun and moon’s existence and light are from Him, making them mere conduits.
• The sun’s self-sacrifice through light-giving until its annihilation symbolizes the mystic's 'fana fi Allah' (annihilation in God).
• “Pākbāzi” means not only to stake one's entire being but also to give purely, without anticipating any reward.
• The true giver bestows what they receive upon others without a moment's hesitation or calculation.