M6:622 — بنگر اینها را که مجنون گشته‌اند / هم‌چو پروانه بوصلت کشته‌اند

Translation: Look upon these who have become Majnūn (madly in love), Who, like moths, have sacrificed themselves for union. Meaning: This verse speaks to the fervent madness and profound self-sacrifice of true lovers who, unhesitatingly and with utter devotion, offer their very existence to achieve union with the Beloved.

Mawlana, immediately after declaring, “Henceforth I shall make this burning my Qibla (direction of prayer), for I am a candle, luminous through my burning,” invites the reader to witness a singular scene of love. This verse, in essence, is an invitation, a call to the ‘street of the sleepless,’ to observe the state of those who have chosen a destiny beyond the conventional human path: “Look upon these who have become Majnūn.” Mawlana implies that one should not assume everyone in this world seeks comfort and self-preservation. There are those who have drunk from a different, purer spring, rendering the salty waters of the world tasteless to them. These are individuals who, without fear, surrender themselves to that ‘drunken lion’ (an image of God in some mystical experiences, denoting His absolute sovereignty over His dominion), even welcoming annihilation.

The phrase “Who, like moths, have sacrificed themselves for union” captures the zenith of this conscious and voluntary self-sacrifice. The moth symbolizes one who, by choice and love, rushes into the heart of the fire to dissolve within it. This is not a lament over annihilation, but an ardent yearning for it. The moth does not flee the fire; rather, it seeks its union within it. This signifies that such lovers, contrary to the instinct for self-preservation, not only do not fear annihilation but regard it as the true gateway to union. In this path, the seeker’s very existence, their intellect (‘aql), and their free will (ikhtiyār) become the most precious gifts offered to the Beloved. Mawlana elsewhere states explicitly: “What is love, they ask? Say: abandonment of free will.” Intellect and free will, considered ultimate assets in the ordinary world, diminish in value in the ‘realm of love,’ for there, “its dust is pure gold,” and only unparalleled gifts such as ‘intellect’ and ‘free will’ are accepted.

This realm of love is for the rare few; it is not a path accessible to all, nor does Mawlana expect it to be. We can only glimpse its contours from afar, delight in its mystery, and yearn for it. Yet, even this distant gaze and yearning, if genuine, can bring a breeze from that spiritual domain, paving the way for those who perceive its ‘scent’ and follow it. Here, conventional intellect is likened to amber, readily seized by the ‘dragon of love,’ for this love is an “unseen and enchanting dragon” that devours even mountain-like intellect. This consumption is not one of destruction, but of transcendence, moving beyond the limited boundaries of ordinary reason, enabling lovers to attain an understanding far beyond its grasp.

Key takeaways

• Union with the Beloved is achieved through the unquestioning sacrifice of one's entire being.
• True love consumes the lover's intellect and free will; these are the most precious gifts offered to the Beloved.
• To 'become Majnūn' signifies transcending conventional reason to enter a realm of divine madness.
• The moth symbolizes passionate self-immolation and a deliberate rush towards annihilation in the Beloved.
• This path of intense love is not for all; it is a rare journey for the select few who transcend their own limits.