M6:2021 — در ده ای ساقی یکی رطلی گران / خواجه را از ریش و سبلت وا رهان

Translation: Oh Sāqī, give a heavy measure (ratl) of wine, Release the Master (Khvājeh) from his beard and mustache. Meaning: This verse is a plea to the divine cup-bearer to grant a potent draught of mystical intoxication, so strong that it dissolves the outward signs of ego and social standing, freeing the seeker from self-importance.

This verse emerges from an extraordinary surge of emotion and ecstasy within Mowlana himself, where he declares, "I am intoxicated, I will raise a clamor," postponing other narratives to articulate his own heart's truth. I interpret this as a rebellion of love, no longer able to remain veiled.

The plea to the Sāqī (cup-bearer) is for a "heavy ratl" of wine—a profoundly large measure of the wine of gnosis and love—to be given to the Khvājeh (master/gentleman). The Khvājeh here symbolizes one who is deeply attached to external appearances and societal expectations; a person ensnared by reputation and social prestige. The "beard and mustache" (rīsh o soblat) from which Mowlana seeks liberation refer to these very outward symbols of credibility, dignity, and social ambition that distance an individual from their true self. These are veils that reinforce individuality and ego, impeding the experience of self-abandonment (bī-khudī) and annihilation (fanā).

From Mowlana's perspective, this mystical wine is not for pleasure, but a means to dismantle these internal and external barriers. Its primary function is to "strip away self-will from a person and subdue arrogance." In a state of genuine intoxication, the "fancies of sovereignty and mastery" fall away from the individual, who is freed from the "wind of the mustache" (bād-e soblat)—that pride and pomposity born of one’s false conceptions about oneself. This is precisely the point Hafez also alludes to: "If wine yields you naught else, this much suffices: it momentarily diverts you from the temptation of intellect." In this context, "intellect" (ʿaql) does not signify true wisdom, but rather those very delusions and self-aggrandizing fantasies from which the wine of love, at least for a moment, delivers one. Thus, this is a profound prayer: "Release the Khvājeh from his beard and mustache," meaning, liberate him from self-obsession and superficial constraints so that the veil may be lifted from his truth, and his authentic self revealed.

Key takeaways

• The Khvājeh symbolizes the individual enslaved by social status and appearances.
• The "beard and mustache" are metaphors for pride, arrogance, and attachment to external prestige.
• Mystical wine is a means to dissolve self-will and liberate oneself from egoic constraints.
• Divine intoxication eradicates the "wind of the mustache" (pomposity) and fosters humility.