M6:1548 — شکر کن که زنده‌ای بر تو نزد / کانک زنده رد کند حق کرد رد

Translation: Give thanks that a Living One did not reject you; for whoever the Living One casts out, God has cast out. Meaning: This verse asserts that the Friends of God (Awliya') are manifestations of the Divine will, and to be rejected by them signifies, in essence, rejection by God Himself.

In this concise verse, Rumi unveils a profound truth that demands deep contemplation. The term "Living One" (Zendeh) here does not merely refer to someone who breathes; rather, it denotes the "Friends of God" (Awliya' Allah) or "Men of God," those who have been quickened by the Divine breath and possess a life transcending ordinary animal or human existence. In comparison to them, we are all, despite our apparent vitality, like the dead. Rumi emphatically states that one should be grateful if one of these true Living Ones has not cast them out or rejected them from their presence. Why? Because to be rejected by such a Living Wali (saint) is tantamount to being rejected by God Himself. This is a core principle in Rumi's mysticism: the Awliya' are perfect mirrors of the Divine, and their will and actions are manifestations of the Divine will and action. Just as Moses rejected Pharaoh, and that rejection was in truth a Divine rejection, so too is the rejection by a Wali a rejection by God. This point leads us to the exalted position of the Friends of God in the cosmic order. They are, as it were, God Himself on earth. If one wishes to be an intimate of God, Rumi illuminates the path: "Whoever wishes to sit with God, let him sit in the presence of the Awliya'." To be in their presence, to hear their words, and to receive grace from them, is to be in communion with God. Their hearts and souls are centers of "a hundred ready Qiyamats (Resurrections)," the least manifestation of which is to intoxicate even a neighbor. The primary task of these men is to "enlighten and warm humanity"; they act as magnets, attracting seekers and intoxicating them with the heat of Divine love. Therefore, woe to anyone whom a Wali rejects! Such a person will be cast out from the Divine court. Rumi emphasizes this elsewhere by stating: "Until the heart of a Man of God was pained, God never disgraced any nation." The calamities that befell past nations were all due to the prayers and discontent of the prophets. This indicates that God's intervention in the world often occurs through the pure souls of the Awliya' and prophets. Their will and desires are channels for the manifestation of Divine power. Consequently, one must exercise the utmost caution when dealing with God's servants, as many of the Divine Friends are hidden in appearance; they may not possess pleasing countenances and might appear as ruffians or common folk. Rumi, in the manner of Qalandars and Malamatiyya (those who court blame), says: "Many a piece of gold is blackened / So that it may be safe from plunder and harm." These golden servants conceal themselves from people's eyes to be safe from worldly harms and undue judgments. This teaching calls for vigilance in judgment and caution in human relations. Following this verse, Rumi alludes to the nature of these true Living Ones: "God killed him and breathed into his leg (or being)." This killing is the annihilation of the self (fana-fillah). And the breathing into him is the Divine Nafkh (breath), which differs from the butcher's breath; the butcher's breath (which inflates a sheep for skinning) is perishable and material, but the Divine Nafkh is eternal and heavenly. This Nafkh is the "Breath of God" that makes the Wali "alive by God," and the Wali's wrath becomes God's wrath.

Key takeaways

• The "Living One" (Zendeh) in this verse refers to the Awliya' Allah, Men of God, who are truly alive through the Divine breath and essence.
• Rejection by a Living Wali is, in essence, rejection by God; the Awliya' are mirrors of the Divine will.
• The Awliya' are manifestations of God on earth; to sit with them is considered to be sitting with God Himself.
• The primary role of the Awliya' is to "enlighten and warm" human hearts with the fervor of Divine love.
• One must be cautious in judging and interacting with others, as many Divine Friends are hidden in their outward appearance and may not be readily recognizable.
• The wrath of a Wali is a reflection of Divine wrath, as the Wali lives by the Truth and their ego has undergone annihilation.