M6:3035 — چند کس هم‌چون فدایی تاختند / خویشتن را پیش او انداختند

Translation: Several individuals, like fada'is (devoted sacrificers), charged forth, And threw themselves before him. Meaning: This verse depicts the raw courage and self-sacrifice of individuals who, akin to the fearless fada'is, cast themselves into the fray without hesitation, embracing death.

This verse speaks of the valor and self-sacrifice of those who, "like fada'is," rush into the field and "threw themselves before him." When Mowlana mentions fada'iyan, our minds immediately turn to the Ismailis of his era, who would assassinate opponents with their daggers and fearlessly sacrifice their lives in the process; Khwaja Nizam al-Mulk was one such famous victim. However, it is crucial to understand that Mowlana praises this self-sacrifice not for the Ismailis' creed or methods, but for the fundamental principle of "giving up one's life" and the spirit of sabok-rouhi (lightness of spirit)—that is, the human capacity and readiness to relinquish attachments and surrender the most precious possession, life itself.

I have previously noted that Mowlana praises this same spirit of self-sacrifice in the martyrs of Karbala, referring to them as "light-souled lovers." Mowlana's approach transcends any specific creed or doctrine; he looks at the essence of the action, not its ideological content. For Mowlana, self-sacrifice is not merely a political or religious act, but a manifestation of liberation from the self and worldly attachments, which prepares a human being for "flight."

Mowlana even considers this fada'i-like spirit to be inherently present in all humans. He says: Mankind is amazed by the fada'i; Yet each of us is of a fada'i nature.

This means that each of us, in some way, for some cause, along some path, gradually sacrifices our life. The only difference is that fada'is sometimes offer this life all at once, while others lose it piecemeal in pursuit of their ideals. Thus, amazement at fada'is is, in essence, amazement at a part of our own being. This is a point he emphasizes in another verse: I am fearless like the Ismailis, Nay, I am free from my head like Isma'il.

Here, Mowlana distinguishes between "Ismailis" (who are the fada'is of his time) and "Isma'il," the son of Abraham (PBUH), who unreservedly surrendered himself to the divine command. But the common thread between both is the liberation from the body and fearlessness in the face of death. This liberation from "body" and "head" is what enables such self-sacrifice. This verse, therefore, not only describes a historical event but points to the profound spirit of self-sacrifice at the core of human existence that Mowlana praises and teaches us to recognize.

Key takeaways

• The term "fada'i" in this verse refers to the Ismailis, renowned for their fearlessness and self-sacrifice.
• Mowlana praises the essence of such devotion: liberation from attachments and readiness to surrender one's life, rather than their specific creed or actions.
• True self-sacrifice and fearlessness in the face of death result from a "lightness of spirit" (sabok-rouhi) and freedom from the ego's shackles.
• All human beings are, in a sense, "fada'i-natured"; only the manner and pace of their sacrifice differ.