M6:3282 — کف همی‌مالید بر پشت و سرش / می‌نواخت از مهر هم‌چون مادرش

Translation: He would rub his palms on its back and head; / He would caress it with affection, just like its mother. Meaning: This verse continues the tale of Moses the shepherd, depicting his ultimate act of tenderness: he lovingly cares for a weary lamb, much like a compassionate mother. This scene encapsulates the profound mercy that ultimately qualified Moses for his sacred station as Kalīmullāh (the one spoken to by God) and a prophet.

This verse describes the culmination of the story where Moses, the shepherd, pursues a runaway lamb. Initially, Moses, whom I have described in my lectures as having a quick temper, could have been justifiably angry and frustrated by the lamb's behavior. Yet, Rumi, in accord with both Quranic and Torah narratives, here reveals a profound essence of prophetic character. Moses, despite his exhaustion, upon finally catching the struggling lamb, performs an act that is not merely commendable but becomes the very criterion for his prophethood.

I have recounted this scene numerous times in my lectures. Moses gently rubs his hands over the lamb's back and head, as if dusting off the weariness of the journey. He does not strike it, not even a gentle tap, but rather caresses it with utmost compassion, 'just like its mother.' Rumi explicitly states: 'Not an iota of darkness or wrath was there, / Naught but love, mercy, and tears.' This is a crucial point; no trace of darkness, resentment, or anger is found in Moses. His entire being is filled with love, mercy, and perhaps tears of empathy.

It is at this very moment that God addresses the angels, declaring: 'To the angels, God then declared, / 'Indeed, this one is worthy of prophethood!'' This singular act of Moses, this manifestation of boundless mercy (rahmat-i wāsi'ah), renders him worthy of the immense burden of prophethood and his divine appellation as Kalīmullāh. Such mercy is a reflection of the Divine Attribute of Compassion (Raḥmānīyat-i Ilāhī) within a human being—a mercy that immediately brings to mind the 'mercy for all worlds' (raḥmat-al-lil-'ālamīn) attributed to the Prophet Muhammad. Prophets are those endowed with a 'broadness of chest' (saʿat-i sadr); their capacity for endurance is immense, allowing them to absorb hardships and adversities without succumbing to vengeance or wrath. This ultimate test—how one treats a weak and erring creature—determines the inner capacity of a prophet.

I have always emphasized that 'every prophet, whether young or a child, engaged in shepherding.' This was not merely an external activity but an internal trial. 'Without shepherding and that test, / God granted no one leadership of the world.' Without this shepherding and this test, God has not appointed anyone as a guide for humanity. Thus, Moses's act of caressing the lamb is more than a simple story; it is a profound symbol of the nature of prophethood and what qualifies a human being for divine discourse and the guidance of humanity: boundless mercy, forgiveness, and an expansive inner capacity.

Key takeaways

• Compassion and mercy, not wrath, are the true measures of worthiness for spiritual leadership and guidance.
• Moses, through internal transformation and overcoming potential anger, proved his capacity to receive divine revelation.
• The caressing of the weary lamb symbolizes the 'broadness of chest' and prophets' ability to embrace and care for erring humanity.
• Prophethood is not merely a divine selection but a test of moral attributes and spiritual capabilities.
• The tradition of prophets as shepherds attests to the necessity of cultivating practical compassion and empathy before spiritual leadership.