M6:2335 — هم در آب دیده عریان بیستم / بر در تو چونک دیده نیستم

Translation: I stand naked in my tears, / For before Your door, I possess no eye (dideh) or discernment.

Meaning: A mystic declares their utter destitution before God, standing at His threshold, stripped of all possessions save their tears, and acknowledging a complete lack of sight or self-sufficiency.

This couplet expresses one of the profoundest states of mystical journey: absolute poverty and utter helplessness before the Divine Presence. I say, "I stand naked in my tears," meaning I stand amidst my tears in the utmost destitution and emptiness. "Nakedness" here is not the absence of clothing, but a metaphor for "possessing nothing"; it signifies being devoid of all that is perceived as selfhood or being, emptied of every possession and capability. This is the state Mawlana frequently alludes to in the Masnavi, where in moments of unconsciousness—like sleep or night—one finds oneself to be "nothing" (hīch); an empty box from which the hand of deliberation has been withdrawn. As he states elsewhere: "In my time of unconsciousness, I am nothing; / In my time of awareness, I am in turmoil." In this state of nothingness, one clearly perceives one's inability to "tie and untie" affairs (ḥall-o ʿaqd) and wonders how, with such helplessness, one can still be "self-admiring" (muʿjibī).

Therefore, this "standing naked" is an admission of non-being, not merely the absence of external possessions, but the absence of existential and essential independence. This poverty is a prerequisite for genuine prayer and supplication, where the dervish takes up their basket of prayer and says: "Since I have nothing like the alif, O Generous One, / Save a heart tighter than the eye of the mīm." The alif, lacking any dot or diacritical mark, symbolizes this very self-effacement and nothingness before the absolute Being of God.

But why does this "naked" standing occur "in tears" (āb-i dīdeh)? Mawlana attributes special significance to tears. He considers tears a jewel that should only be shed for God, not for the ephemeral things of this world. Tears that flow from the fear of God or the longing for union with Him are the highest virtues and a testament to seeing God, even if the state expresses: "For I possess no eye/discernment." The jurist was right in saying: "Weeping is the water of the eye; / Let's see for what it has seen." So, "tears" here denote purity of intention, sincerity of spiritual state, and depth of longing, even at the peak of feeling unseen or lacking insight.

The phrase "For before Your door, I possess no eye/discernment (dīdeh nīstam)" also holds a key point. "Dīdeh nīstam" means "I have no eye" or "no eye is for me." This can have several dimensions: firstly, the lack of an outer or inner eye to perceive the divine glory in this world. Secondly, the lack of independent discerning power or insight to find the way to Him. The seeker, in utmost helplessness and confession of their insignificance, even denies possessing "sight." They no longer wish to see with their own eyes or seek a path with their own discernment; rather, they completely surrender themselves to His will and guidance.

Ultimately, this couplet paints a picture of complete surrender, absolute humility, and unquestioning trust in divine mercy. By stripping themselves of every ability and insight, the seeker casts themselves into the boundless ocean of God's grace, appearing before Him with only their tears—a sign of the soul's life and hidden longing.

Key takeaways

• True inner poverty and helplessness form the foundation of connection with God.
• "Standing naked" symbolizes the stripping away of all ego, claims, and both outer and inner possessions.
• Sincere tears (āb-i dīdeh) are a mark of pure intention and deep mystical longing, even in a state of lacking discernment.
• The phrase "I possess no eye/discernment" signifies complete surrender and the abandonment of self-importance or independent perceptive abilities.
• This couplet is an invitation to absolute humility and unquestioning trust in divine guidance and mercy.