M6:3031 — گفت آنک ترک گویی کبر و فن / پیش او آیی به شمشیر و کفن

Translation: He (the minister) said: 'That if you abandon pride and artifice, / You will come before him with sword and shroud.' Meaning: This verse illustrates how a profound, resolute spiritual force shatters all arrogance and pride, compelling an adversary to complete and unconditional surrender.

This verse is uttered in the context of the story of Ja'far Tayyar and the conquest of a fortress. Here, Mawlana delves into the unparalleled power of prophets and saints when confronting seemingly insurmountable challenges. Ja'far Tayyar, a solitary horseman, charges towards a fortress, whose gates are shut in fear of him. The king of the fortress seeks counsel from his minister, who then speaks this verse. The minister's point is that the only way out of their predicament is to abandon pride and cunning, and to completely surrender to this unique individual. 'Sword and shroud' (shamshīr o kafan) was a traditional symbol of absolute submission; one would present a sword and shroud, essentially saying, 'Kill me and shroud me, for in surrender, I am as good as dead.' This symbolizes annihilation before an overwhelming will.

I have previously explained that the power of Ja'far Tayyar and others like him stems not from the multitude of their army or weapons, but from their jamʿīyat-i khāṭir (collectedness of heart), tawakkul (trust in God), and delīrī o shajāʿat (bravery and courage). These are all interconnected qualities that, when gathered in one's soul, bestow a daringness that causes seemingly numerous but inwardly dispersed groups to surrender before them. The king's minister also alludes to this, saying, 'Do not look contemptuously at a single man; open your eyes and see the fortress, how it trembles like mercury before him.' This demonstrates the influence of a strong, divinely-trusting spirit on its surroundings; an influence that extends from the inner world to the outer.

Mawlana repeatedly praises such self-sacrifice (jān-bāzī) and detachment. Just as he describes the Isma'ili Fada'iyan who fearlessly sacrificed their lives for their creed, saying, 'People marvel at the Fada'i; yet each of us is of the Fada'i's disposition.' Or, concerning the martyrs of Karbala, whom he calls 'light-souled lovers' (sabuk-rūḥān-i ʿāshiq). This 'light-souledness' (sabuk-rūḥī) and 'self-sacrifice' (jān-bāzī) is the state that diminishes pride and arrogance, leading an individual to complete surrender before truth or a dominant force. One who has transcended their ego has nothing left to lose, and this non-attachment is their greatest strength, bringing even the mightiest adversary to 'sword and shroud' before them. Here, it is not a matter of deception, but the triumph of truth over arrogance.

Key takeaways

• True power stems from jamʿīyat-i khāṭir (collectedness of heart) and absolute tawakkul (trust in God).
• Genuine surrender signifies the abandonment of egoic pride, artifice, and self-conceit.
• The formidable inner state of a single individual can cause armies to tremble and fortresses to yield.
• Light-souled detachment (sabuk-rūḥī) and non-attachment to life create fearless courage.
• The 'sword and shroud' symbolizes complete annihilation before a truth or an overwhelming force.