M6:302 — بعد از آن اندر شب گردک به فن / امردی را بست حنی هم‌چو زن

Translation: After that, in the wedding-chamber at night, by trickery, / They adorned a beardless youth with henna, like a woman. Meaning: This verse describes the pivotal moment in the story where the Master, intending to deceive his servant, dresses a beardless youth to resemble a woman, adorning him with henna, and sends him to the bridal chamber in place of the real bride.

This verse unravels a deeply ironic and instructive scene in the Masnavi. Mawlana narrates how the cunning Master, wishing to dissuade his ailing servant from uniting with the concubine, confronts him on the wedding night with a grand deception. Gardak refers to the bridal chamber or the wedding night itself, and be fan means with trickery and artifice. Here, an amrad enters the scene; a beardless youth who could easily present himself as a woman. He was adorned with hani (henna) and dressed like a bride. This is a vivid portrayal of concealing truth behind a deceptive facade.

Beneath this narrative, Mawlana pursues a profound lesson. This amrad, presented as a mākiyān (hen) but in reality a khorūs (rooster), is a metaphor for the world and its allurements. From afar, the world too appears as āb (water), but upon closer approach, it reveals itself as a sarāb (mirage). In Mawlana's own words, it is an gande pīr (old hag) that presents herself as a now-ʿarūs (young bride). This deception is not exclusive to the servant; rather, it speaks to the ghorūr of all humanity. Ghorūr here does not mean pride or arrogance, but rather to be gūl khordan – to be fooled or deceived by appearances and superficialities.

This episode of the servant being deceived carries a clear message: haste in attaining faraj (relief or fulfillment) can ensnare us in illusion. Against the world's guile, Mawlana speaks of sabr (patience) as the miftāh al-faraj (key to relief/opening). Only through patience and discerning eyes can one escape the snare of these false brides of the world and attain true union. This verse symbolizes humanity's inability to distinguish reality from deceptive appearances, especially when intense desire or lust has blinded the eye of reason.

Key takeaways

• The world, like a deceptive bride, conceals its true nature behind a beautiful facade.
• The allure of appearances hinders one's perception of reality.
• Ghorūr here signifies being fooled or deceived, not arrogance or pride.
• Impatience and lack of insight make one prey to the world's deceptions.
• Patience and contemplation are the keys to distinguishing reality from illusion and achieving true fulfillment.