M6:3295 — دانم آنجا در مکافات ایزدت / سروری جاودانه بخشدت

Translation: I know that there, in the recompense of your God, / He will bestow upon you eternal sovereignty. Meaning: This verse expresses the belief in divine reward for righteous rulers and officials; those who serve the people with justice, generosity, and fidelity to their covenants will attain an exalted and everlasting status in the hereafter.

Here, Mowlana, through the voice of a grateful debtor, addresses a deceased mohtasib (an officer or supervisor). These verses represent the highest form of appreciation and respect for the righteous conduct of a governor or official who has handled the affairs of the people with integrity and rectitude.

I have repeatedly emphasized Mowlana's use of the concept of 'shepherding' (چوپانی) when discussing governance and responsibility. This 'shepherding' does not imply tyranny or lordship, but rather service and accountability towards the 'flock' – that is, the people. As the Prophet of Islam stated: "All of you are shepherds, and all of you are responsible for your flock"; this saying forms the bedrock of the idea of rulers as servants. Sa'di, too, used this very meaning to describe a ruler who safeguards the welfare of the people, saying, "His tax is lawful, for it is the wage of shepherding." This perspective stands in absolute contradiction to the notion held by those who consider the ruler a 'guardian of the people' (wali) and a 'master' (khwāja); a shepherd is the servant of the flock, not its owner. A shepherd, like Moses, is one who, when a sheep strays, tenderly embraces it with tears and returns it to the flock, rather than striking or banishing it.

Mowlana explicitly states in this verse that such service will not go unrewarded. 'Makāfāt-e īzadat' (the recompense of your God) signifies divine reward. This reward stems not from God's need, but from His justice and mercy. If that mohtasib, through his 'shepherding' (چوپانیت), blinded his enemies (meaning he allowed them no opportunity for ill-will or harm), then in the hereafter, he himself will attain 'eternal sovereignty' (سروری جاودانه). This 'eternal sovereignty' is not of the earthly power type, but rather of spiritual and transcendental elevation; a status God grants to His prophets and chosen ones after they have passed through earthly 'tests' (emtehān), to then engage in the shepherding of His purest souls.

I have spoken extensively about the concept of 'testing' (emtehān) from a divine perspective in the Masnavi. Divine testing, unlike human examination, is not for God to gain knowledge, for He is aware of all that is manifest and hidden. Testing is a stage for the manifestation and actualization of the inner potentials and capacities of a being. It is like gold tested in fire, so its purity becomes evident to all, and the gold itself reveals its essential truth. Therefore, the good 'shepherding' of this mohtasib was his very test; a test he passed successfully, thereby earning the merit of 'eternal sovereignty.' The 'payment of dues' (وظیفه دادن) that Mowlana refers to in subsequent verses also signifies the fulfillment of obligations and contracts, a further indication of the mohtasib's adherence to justice and his covenants.

Key takeaways

• Governance and responsibility, in Mowlana's view, mean serving and 'shepherding' the people, not ruling over them.
• Righteous deeds and justice in this world will undoubtedly be met with divine reward and spiritual elevation in the next.
• Divine 'testing' (emtehān) is an opportunity for the actualization of human inner potentials, not for God to gain knowledge.
• Just administration and fidelity to covenants are hallmarks of worthy conduct that lead to eternal sovereignty.
• This verse emphasizes that even in a person's absence, the memory and impact of their good deeds remain and are worthy of good recompense.