M1:139 — پرده بردار و برهنه گو که من / می‌نخسپم با صنم با پیرهن

Translation: Remove the veil and speak nakedly, for I / Do not sleep with the beloved (sanām) with a shirt (pīrahan) on. Meaning: The soul, in its ultimate yearning, demands a direct, unveiled encounter with the Beloved, refusing any form of concealment or intermediary.

This verse articulates a profound demand from the depths of Mowlana's soul: an insistence on the complete removal of any veil between the lover and the Beloved. The aspiring soul declares its desire to 'sleep with the Beloved without a shirt,' implying no intermediary, no covering, and no distance should remain between them. This is the zenith of seeking unmediated union and a complete experience of presence.

I interpret this in light of Mowlana's own deathbed statement to Sadr al-Din Qunawi: 'Only a shirt remains between me and the Beloved.' This 'shirt' symbolizes the final layers of worldly attachment and physical existence that must be shed. It echoes Saʿdi's sweet-tongued lines in a love ghazal: 'Only a shirt shall remain between us / And if it is a veil, I will tear it to its hem.' This 'shirt' can be a metaphor for the veils of the ego, ingrained habits, acquired knowledge, or even our own finite being, which prevent unblemished perception of the Truth.

However, Mowlana himself, in the subsequent verses, offers a sagacious response, cautioning that this audacious demand must be tempered with discernment. He says: 'Seek desires, but seek them in measure / A single blade of straw cannot bear a mountain.' Meaning, if that pure Truth were to manifest unveiled, 'neither you, nor your side, nor your middle would remain.' We, with our limited existence, cannot withstand such absolute effulgence. Our very survival depends on this 'veil.' Khayyam also alludes to this when he says: 'Behind the curtain, conversations between you and I exist / When the curtain falls, neither you nor I will remain.' This veil is not merely an obstruction; it is a guardian of the contingent being.

So, what is the path forward? Mowlana reveals the 'secrets of the Beloved' through 'the discourse of others' (ḥadīth-i dīgarān). That is, the hidden mysteries are conveyed not through impossible directness, but through stories, tales, and parables throughout the Masnavi. It is here that the concepts of 'revelation' (waḥī) and 'unveiling' (kashf) acquire a special meaning. At times, we hear a word, a story, or a verse from the Masnavi that seems to be a direct answer to our inner questioning; it is as if it has been 'revealed' to us in that moment, even if the speaker is unaware of it. This is the 'secret-knowing' (rāz-shenāsī) upon which gnosis (ʿirfān) is founded; not solving the mystery, but living within it and finding oneself reflected in its mirror. The entire Masnavi is an exposition of this 'discourse of others,' allowing the seeker to discover themselves within it and connect with the Beloved, not through a veil of harshness and concealment, but through a veil of symbolism and narrative that ensures their continued existence.

Key takeaways

• The soul, in its profound yearning, demands a direct, unveiled encounter with the Beloved.
• The 'shirt' symbolizes any intermediary, veil, or worldly attachment that obstructs perfect union.
• While affirming this desire, Mowlana cautions against the danger of the seeker's annihilation when facing absolute Truth directly.
• Our existence and survival depend on these 'veils' or gradual coverings that make the apprehension of Truth bearable.
• The Masnavi, by speaking 'secrets of the Beloved' through 'the discourse of others,' provides a path to experiencing Truth within the veil of allegory and narrative.
• Mystical experience can manifest as 'revelation' (inner inspiration), where answers to our questions are found hidden in the words of others.