M6:2008 — نعرهٔ یا نار کونی باردا / عصمت جان تو گشت ای مقتدا

Translation: The cry of 'O Fire, be cool!' Became the immunity of your soul, O Guide! Meaning: This verse refers to the divine command 'O Fire, be cool!' which protected Abraham from Nimrod's blaze. It suggests that the same divine safeguard now shields Rumi's soul within the fire of divine love, highlighting his elevated and divinely protected spiritual station.

This verse addresses Rumi himself, or perhaps Shams and Husam al-Din, who were manifestations of his Beloved. Earlier, Rumi states: 'You plunged into the heart of the sea of fire.' This means that with utter courage and daring, you cast yourself into the fiery ocean of divine love and presence. But does not entering fire lead to annihilation? Rumi answers with a resounding no, for the very divine call that saved Abraham from Nimrod's scorching fire—'O Fire, be cool and peaceful for Abraham!'—this very hidden cry, this 'Ya Nar Kuni Barda,' has become the ʿiṣmat (infallibility/protection) and safeguarding of your soul, O Guide!

Here, ʿiṣmat does not denote immunity from sin, but rather a profound divine protection and guardianship. It is a special form of safeguarding bestowed upon the yearning seeker when they step into the perilous arena of love. God burns the seeker in this fire but does not destroy them; He purifies them but does not extinguish them. In other words, this 'Ya Nar Kuni Barda' is itself an intrinsic quality of the fire of love for one who has attained the station of 'abītu ʿinda rabbī' (I spend the night with my Lord)—that is, one who passes the night in the presence of their Lord, drinking and being fed by Him. This is not a physical sustenance, but an immersion in the spiritual feast of divine presence. Entering this station is not like entering a cold, serene sea, but rather a fiery furnace which, for the true lover, is not only non-scorching but becomes the source of peace and the preservation of their soul.

This is the same point Rumi makes elsewhere, stating: 'The breath that the reed-player blew into the reed / Is proportionate to the reed, not to the player.' Though the reed has limited capacity, the player's breath—here, the divine breath—enters only as much as the reed can bear, protecting it from combustion and destruction. This divine protection is the result of the lover's daring and fearlessness in plunging into the heart of the sea of fire, but ultimately, their survival and well-being are owed to eternal divine grace and favor. This demonstrates Rumi's placement of himself at the apex of a mystical experience where his soul, in the presence of the Beloved, is embraced by the flames of love yet remains immune from any harm. This is the highest station of a seeker who not only fears no annihilation but experiences annihilation within everlasting subsistence.

Key takeaways

• Rumi identifies himself with a prophetic stature, receiving divine grace and protection.
• Entering the sea of divine love is likened to entering fire, yet for true lovers, this fire becomes cool and safe.
• Here, ʿiṣmat signifies divine safeguarding and preservation, granted to the lover through their proximity and presence in the Beloved's assembly.
• This verse expresses the lover's utmost courage in entering the divine realm, coupled with a deep assurance of mystical protection.