M6:3611 — جان فدای تو کنم در انتعاش / رستمی شیری هلا مردانه باش

Translation: I will sacrifice my soul for you in your flourishing and vigor! You are a Rostam, a lion! Hey, be manly and brave! Meaning: This verse captures Satan's deceptive flattery, promising unwavering devotion and urging humanity to be fearlessly brave, like Rostam or a lion, especially during moments of perceived strength and success.

This verse is a deceptive utterance from Satan, brilliantly depicted by Mawlana in the Mathnawi as an act of profound seduction and cunning. The world, as Mawlana calls it, is Dār al-Ghurūr — the Abode of Deception, a land built upon trickery and inversion. In this realm of artifice, Satan is the unparalleled master of adorning ugliness in the garb of beauty, aiming to divert humanity from the path of truth and draw them into ingratitude and infidelity.

Here, Satan makes false promises, portraying himself as humanity's loyal companion and helper. With flattering words, he likens the human to 'Rostam' and a 'lion,' inflating their ego to its peak and urging them to reckless bravery with the command, 'Hey, be manly and brave!' He declares, 'I will sacrifice my soul for you in your flourishing and vigor,' meaning: 'In this period of your prosperity and strength, I am your loyal devotee; I will sacrifice everything for you'—a promise that is, with striking clarity, an utter fabrication.

Such words, in essence, are merely 'putting wind into one's sleeve' (a Persian idiom for false encouragement). Through these provocations and empty promises, Satan dispatches humans into the heart of danger, tempting them to undertake actions they believe they can accomplish with Satan's backing. Yet, the very nature of Dār al-Ghurūr is revealed precisely when real peril strikes: Satan immediately turns his back, expresses aversion, and declares, 'You did not fear the Justice of the Creator / I do, so leave me be!' This is the peak of Mawlana's bitter irony, where the deceiver directs the deceived to fear Divine Justice, even though he himself was the primary cause of their predicament.

Mawlana, with his keen insight, teaches us that ultimately, both the deceiver and the deceived 'will be black-faced and deserving of stoning' on the Day of Reckoning. This verse captures the initial moment of this grand deception, where Satan, with sweet and alluring words, lays a hidden trap for humanity, distancing them from the path of servitude and the recognition of truth. To escape these deceptions, there is no recourse but to cling to the 'men of God' and hold onto the hem of the people of truth – those who have freed themselves from the grasp of this world's deceit and Satan, and have found their way to that formless reality.

Key takeaways

• The world is Dār al-Ghurūr (the Abode of Deception), and Satan is its master trickster.
• Satan uses false promises and flattery to incite humanity towards disbelief and reckless bravery.
• Likening humans to 'Rostam' and a 'lion' exemplifies Satanic seduction to inflame pride.
• When faced with real danger, Satan immediately abandons and even mocks the deceived.
• Mawlana emphasizes that both the deceiver and the deceived are ultimately accountable for their actions.
• Deliverance from such deceptions is only possible by taking refuge in the people of truth and the 'men of God'.