M6:3544 — تا ز بسیاری آن زر نشکهند / بی‌گرانی پیش آن مهمان نهند

Translation: So that they (the heirs) may not shrink from the abundance of that gold / They should place it before that guest without reluctance. Meaning: This verse emphasizes that the inheritors must, without greed or hesitation, generously present the bequeathed wealth to the rightful recipient, and even if the person declines, they must not reclaim it.

This verse is situated within a pivotal dream narrative in the Masnavi, wherein a deceased wealthy man reveals his will to a go-between, instructing him to ensure a substantial debt is paid to a poor friend. Mowlana here dramatizes the profound tension between legalistic requirements and the higher ethical and mystical imperatives.

The phrase tā ze basyārī-ye ān zar neshkahend addresses the potential reactions of the inheritors. Dr. Soroush interprets neshkahend as 'to fear,' 'to shrink,' or 'to be tempted.' The sheer magnitude of the bequeathed gold might cause the heirs to recoil from their obligation, to fear the personal loss of such wealth, or, more insidiously, to succumb to temptation, questioning why a substantial fortune should be transferred to an outsider, especially a debtor. This reveals Mowlana's keen insight into the human heart's resistance to selflessness when confronted with immense material value.

The second hemistich, bī-gerānī pīsh-e ān mehmān nehand, emphasizes the manner of the giving. Bī-gerānī signifies 'without reluctance,' 'without sourness,' or 'with ease of heart.' Dr. Soroush stresses that the deceased's will demands the wealth be presented to the guest with kamāl-e ṣafā va ṭayyeb-e khāṭir (complete purity and good will). This is not merely an executive instruction; it is an expression of unconditional self-sacrifice and generosity. At this point, the wealth no longer truly belongs to the heirs; through the deceased's vow and covenant with God, it has become the rightful property of the guest.

Dr. Soroush points out a crucial jurisprudential detail: in Shi'a fiqh (and likely Sunni), an individual can only bequeath one-third of their estate after debts are settled. However, Mowlana is not primarily concerned with fiqh here; he is illustrating a transcendental ethical principle. His emphasis is that once a gift is made with pure intention, it becomes irrevocable—likened to milk that has left the breast or to vomit that a dog returns to (a reference to a Prophetic Hadith). Retrieving such a gift is morally reprehensible. Even if the guest does not accept the entire sum, it cannot revert to the heirs; it must be left at the guest's door for others to take, underscoring the absolute and sacred nature of this offering.

Key takeaways

• Spiritual testament takes ethical precedence over legalistic fiqh; the goal is to deliver what is due to its rightful recipient.
• Internal human obstacles like greed and fear are often the greatest barriers to fulfilling pure intentions.
• True generosity manifests not only in the act of giving but also in its quality—without reluctance and with good will.
• A sincere gift, like a covenant with God, is irrevocable; retrieving it is morally condemned.
• The deceased benefactor's heartfelt intention, even beyond death, overrides the material claims of heirs, directing wealth toward a divine purpose.