M6:3571 — ما نقص مال من الصدقات قط / انما الخیرات نعم المرتبط

Translation: No wealth ever diminished from charities, not at all; / Indeed, good deeds are the best connection. Meaning: This verse, a prophetic tradition, states that giving wealth in charity does not decrease it but rather causes it to increase, and establishing a connection with good deeds is the most valuable asset.

This beyt, a Prophetic utterance that Mawlana has woven into his Mathnawi, presents a pivotal lesson and a foundational principle of practical wisdom. In my reading of the Mathnawi, I have consistently emphasized that Mawlana perceives the cosmos as a stage of azdad—contraries and oppositions that are not meant for stagnation but for effervescence and dynamism. This world 'stands firm through this conflict,' and divine grace 'would not endure without opposition' (as Ibn Sina and Mulla Sadra famously posited). This saying of the Prophet (PBUH) fits precisely into this context.

From a superficial perspective, giving away wealth and offering charity appears to diminish one's possessions; this is the simple, calculating logic of material prudence. However, this beyt, along with many other religious and mystical teachings, refutes this apparent logic. Here, Mawlana uses this Prophetic saying to demonstrate that deeper laws than mere material accounting are at work in the universe. The truth is that giving and spending not only do not reduce income but actually increase it; 'incomes grow from giving and spending.' This is not merely an economic promise but an expression of an ontological and spiritual law.

The phrase 'ma naqasa malun min al-sadaqati qatt' ('no wealth ever diminished from charities, not at all') undoubtedly refers to material increase as well; that is, God blesses the giver's wealth and compensates it in various ways. But the deeper meaning, as evident in Mawlana's discourse and that of other mystics, is that this apparent material decrease leads to spiritual and existential 'growth' (namuw) and 'purity' (tahāra). The word zakāt itself means 'growth' and 'purity.' When a person gives zakāt or charity, they are liberated from the captivity of material attachments and bonds. This 'lightness of burden' and 'freedom' is itself the essence of spiritual ascent. I see this as the unfurling of the soul's wings; a soul freed from the shackles of attachment to possessions soars upward. One who breaks free from the self finds the Self. Thus, this diminution of wealth is, in fact, a ladder for the soul's ascension.

The second part of the beyt, 'innamā al-khayrātu niʿma al-murtabiṭ' ('indeed, good deeds are the best connection'), emphasizes the unifying nature of good deeds. Khayrāt refers to all good actions, not just monetary charity. These good deeds are 'niʿma al-murtabiṭ'; that is, the best thing with which one can connect oneself and to which one can bind one's heart. Indeed, this connection with good deeds lifts one out of existential loneliness and severance, linking them to the fabric of existence and divine mercy. This bond is not only with the Creator but also with creation. One who is dedicated to good deeds finds their heart intertwined with others and with the world, escaping alienation and separation. This connection bestows stability and meaning upon life and aids the individual on the path of union and certainty. Therefore, this beyt teaches us that apparent poverty can be a gateway to inner richness, and benevolence is the superhighway connecting us to the Real and to truth.

Key takeaways

• The Principle of Undiminished Wealth through Charity: In the Mathnawi's logic, giving leads to increase, not decrease.
• The Law of Contraries (Azdad): This beyt exemplifies the cosmic principle of opposition, where abundance arises from apparent lack.
• Spiritual Growth: 'Zakat' (charity) not only increases wealth but also liberates the soul from attachments, fostering spiritual growth and freedom.
• Connection through Good Deeds: The best connection is to link oneself to good deeds, which saves one from isolation and integrates them into the fabric of existence.
• Trans-Material Understanding: These teachings transcend material calculations, revealing deeper laws of being and the universe.