M6:1273 — باز او آن عشرها را با خدو / می‌بچفسانید بر اطراف رو

Translation: Again, she would stick those 'asharhā (decad-markers of the Qur'an) with khadu (spit) / Around her face. Meaning: This verse describes the absurd and desperate attempt of an old woman to adorn her wrinkled face by tearing gold decorations ('asharhā) from a Qur'an and trying to affix them with her own saliva, only for them to fall off repeatedly.

This verse emerges from the tale of an old woman, deeply entrenched in a state of vanity and self-deception, who wishes to attend a grand assembly. Her aged, wrinkled face, however, prevents her from adorning herself in a manner she deems suitable for such an occasion. After exhausting various cosmetics—rouge, kohl, and powders—that fail to conceal her facial lines, she embarks on a truly startling, almost sacrilegious, endeavor. Here, Rumi reveals that the old woman turns to a precious, hand-illuminated copy of the Qur'an. Ancient Qur'ans were often adorned with intricate gold leaf and rich colors, especially at markers indicating the end of every tenth verse, known as 'asharhā. These 'asharhā carried immense material and spiritual value. In her profound misguidedness and ignorance, the old woman deliberately detaches these sacred, gilded fragments from the holy pages. What truly provokes Rumi's scorn and the narrative's irony is her method: "with khadu," meaning with her own spit or saliva. She attempts to adhere these holy fragments of gold onto her wrinkled, decaying face using a bodily fluid, a signifier of contempt and lowliness. This act encapsulates the zenith of misuse and profound misappunderstanding of the sacred. Rather than purifying her inner self and seeking spiritual beauty, she strives to mask her outward and inward ugliness with pieces of the Divine Book, and in such a vulgar manner. What is the outcome of this desperate attempt? Each time she adjusts her veil or even without any external touch, the 'asharhā inevitably fall from her face onto the ground. This constant failure is a powerful symbol of futility. One cannot adorn the exterior with sacred, sublime elements, especially with such base intentions and methods, without an internal transformation. This is a profound lesson from Rumi: inner ugliness cannot be concealed or beautified by religious externals, especially when applied incorrectly and with impure motives. The true existential reality of an individual will inevitably reveal itself, and no stratagem can hide it. This story serves as a sharp critique of superficial piety and the instrumentalization of religion for base, personal desires.

Key takeaways

• Misusing sacred objects for trivial, worldly ends is a sign of profound misunderstanding and poor judgment.
• Attempts to conceal inner decay with external religious or material adornments are futile and doomed to fail.
• True beauty emanates from internal transformation, not from pasting sacred fragments onto an impure exterior.
• The instrumentalization of religion for personal, self-serving purposes is a reprehensible act.
• This verse critiques superficial piety, which prioritizes outward display and form over genuine depth and truth.