M6:4040 — خنده بوی زعفران وصل داد / گریه بوهای پیاز آن بعاد

Translation: Her laughter gave the scent of saffron of union; Her tears gave the scents of onion of that separation (boʿād). Meaning: Zulaikha’s laughter carried the fragrant essence of her spiritual union with Joseph, while her tears bore the pungent sting of separation. Her outward emotional expressions were direct manifestations of her internal states of connection or longing.

This verse unveils a profound truth: our external expressions are utterly faithful mirrors reflecting our inner states. Here, Mevlana alludes to the story of Zulaikha, depicting the stark difference in her condition between moments of union and separation from Joseph. He states:

“Her laughter gave the scent of saffron of union.”

This means that when Zulaikha laughed, it was not merely a physical gesture on her face; it carried the pleasant aroma of the “saffron of union.” Saffron, in our culture, symbolizes joy, preciousness, and auspiciousness. Thus, her laughter bespoke a joyous inner state, a spiritual connection, a mystical union with Joseph. It was evident that she had found a bond with her Beloved in spirit, and was moving in peace and happiness. What flowed forth from the jar of her heart carried the sweet taste of union and reached the soul's discernment.

In contrast, “Her tears gave the scents of onion of that separation (boʿād).” The term boʿād here signifies distance and separation. Zulaikha's tears were not of the ordinary, ineffective kind; rather, they carried the pungent “scent of the onion of separation.” Just as an onion, when peeled, stings the eyes and provokes tears, Zulaikha's weeping bore a sharp aroma of the pain and burning of separation. These tears were a sign of remoteness from the Beloved and the absence of Joseph, bringing tears to her eyes not from the sting of an earthly onion, but from the burning of a heavenly longing. In essence, this crying was the lament of a soul caught in separation, understandable by anyone who has tasted the scent of the onion of absence.

This metaphor by Mevlana is not merely a description of Zulaikha's state; it illuminates a universal principle for us: from the jar of each being, only that which is within it flows out. True joys are rooted in union and connection with Reality, and from them emanates the sweet scent of mystical presence. Authentic, soul-scorching sorrows, too, arise from separation and distance from one's origin, carrying the onion-like bitterness and burning of longing. This verse invites us to contemplate our inner states and reveals how profoundly the quality of our laughter and tears can unveil the hidden secrets of the heart.

Key takeaways

• Human spiritual states manifest through physical expressions such as laughter and crying.
• Union and proximity to the True Beloved possess a subtle quality and the sweet scent of saffron, expressed through laughter and joy.
• Separation and distance from one's origin carry a bitter, stinging pain like the scent of onion, appearing as tears and sorrow.
• Zulaikha’s laughter and tears were not merely emotional reactions but signs of her inner connection or disconnection with Joseph.
• Mevlana employs this narrative to illustrate a universal truth: what is within the jar of the heart invariably flows out and becomes manifest.