M6:973 — چون رود نور و شود پیدا دخان / بفسرد عشق مجازی آن زمان

Translation: When the light (outward beauty) departs, and the smoke (inner decay) becomes manifest, At that moment, metaphorical (majāzī) love will chill and die.

Meaning: This verse articulates that worldly loves, built upon ephemeral physical beauty, will inevitably fade and perish when that superficial beauty recedes and its inherent decay is revealed. True love, conversely, remains vibrant as it is tethered to the eternal source of all beauty.

Indeed, in this verse, Rumi touches upon a pivotal point regarding the nature of true (ḥaqīqī) and metaphorical (majāzī) love. In his view, love in its 'true' and 'authentic' sense is boundless affection, and this boundless affection is befitting only of a boundless Beloved, namely God. Any affection directed towards finite, limited beloveds is termed 'metaphorical' (majāzī); not in the sense of it being false, but as a reflection and emanation of that primary, true love.

Rumi consistently employs the metaphor of 'gilded beauty' (ḥusn-i zarr-andūd) in these verses; a beauty that is like plated gold or a gilded surface covering something else. This outward beauty, which he refers to as 'light' (nūr), is temporary and unstable. Beneath it lies 'smoke' (dukhān)—a metaphor for decay, ugliness, or inherent flaw. Here, he alludes to an ancient and profound principle in the worldview of our predecessors: the principle of the conservation of light and the conservation of beauty. The light that shines upon the world does not vanish; rather, it returns to the sun. Similarly, when objects perish, their beauty is not annihilated; it returns to its original source and reservoir.

Now, what is the connection between this principle and majāzī love? Rumi states: 'When the light departs, and the smoke becomes manifest, / At that moment, metaphorical love will chill and die.' When that light and outward radiance, to which metaphorical love was attached, disappears, and its smoky, decaying interior becomes apparent, it is natural for that love to cool and vanish. This is precisely what happens with the physical body and its transient beauties. The body prides itself on its charm, but the hidden soul reminds it that this allure is but a reflection of my presence. When the soul departs, 'the body remains putrid, disgraced, and vile,' and one who was once enamored by its beauty will now hold their nose from its stench. This is the fate of the 'disgraced copper' (mis-i rusvā) that was once gilded, but now its gold has returned to its mine.

Conversely, 'the love of the discerning is for the mine of gold; / Hence, it increases every day.' True love is directed towards the 'mine of gold' (kān-i zarr), that is, towards the eternal source, free from any flaw or corruption. This 'mine of gold' has neither rival nor peer; the true Beloved is One and infinite. Therefore, a love connected to this inexhaustible source of light and beauty never chills; rather, it grows day by day. This is an ontological and profound definition of two kinds of love: one that perishes with decay, and another that endures and even flourishes through decay, precisely because it has its roots in permanence.

Key takeaways

• True love is boundless affection for the boundless Beloved (God); all else is metaphorical love.
• Worldly beauties ('light') are temporary, like gilding over inner flaws ('smoke').
• Metaphorical love is founded on transient beauty and perishes when that beauty fades.
• Rumi references the ancient 'principle of conservation of beauty and light': they return to their source.
• True love is connected to the eternal source of beauty and thus never diminishes, but rather grows.