M6:3024 — چونک دارد عهد و پیوند سحاب / کی دریغ آید ز سقایانش آب

Translation: Since he has a covenant and connection with the cloud, How could water be withheld from his water-carriers?

Meaning: Whoever has a pact and connection with the primary source of grace and bounty will never hesitate in generosity, knowing that their supply will never diminish.

Here, Rumi speaks of the profound assurance one gains from being connected to the ultimate source of generosity and grace. When one has a covenant of allegiance with the 'Sun of Arabia'—meaning the Prophet of Islam—and is certain of his support, what fear could there be of the wrath, the 'mustache-twirling,' of Abu Lahab? This verse generalizes that specific historical instance into a universal principle within Rumi's mystical ontology. One who has a pact and connection with the 'cloud'—the laden clouds of divine mercy—meaning they recognize the source of all bounty and grace as emanating directly from God, and are connected to it, how could they possibly withhold water from their 'water-carriers'?

The central point is that whoever has discovered the primary source of sustenance transforms into an embodiment of generosity. Such a person has no fear of scarcity or impoverishment, knowing that 'loads upon loads of water will rain upon him from the clouds.' This is the complete trust in the Absolute Giver that liberates an individual from all forms of stinginess and calculation. In Rumi's view, those who achieve union and certainty, free from earthly hopes and fears, become centers of beneficence themselves. This does not merely signify material generosity but also encompasses spiritual giving, knowledge, and love; whatever flows into the seeker's soul from the boundless source of Truth will, in turn, flow out of them.

Key takeaways

• Trust in the ultimate source of grace (God or the Prophet) liberates the seeker from fear of giving and makes them generous.
• The verse generalizes divine support for the Prophet to divine support for any human with a pact with the Truth.
• One who is assured by an infinite source becomes immune to the wrath and threats of others.
• True generosity stems from a feeling of self-sufficiency from the primary source and an abundance of blessings.
• The 'covenant with the cloud' signifies a direct connection with the Absolute Giver and certainty of uninterrupted grace.