M6:3648 — این سخن پایان ندارد ای گروه / هین نگه دارید زان قلعه وجوه

Translation: This discourse, O company, has no end; / Beware, guard the foundations of that fortress. Meaning: After expounding on profound truths, particularly the transformative power of love, Rumi addresses his audience, stating that this discussion is endless, and urges them to remember and safeguard the fundamental principles and insights just shared.

My dear listeners, when Mowlana utters this verse, he does so immediately following some of his most profound pronouncements on the alchemical power of love—how a devil, if it but loves, can win the prize and become Gabriel, how the Satan himself can submit to the grace of the Divine. He is, in effect, drawing a boundary around a segment of discourse, a particularly potent truth.

I described these words as 'excellent,' 'supremely excellent,' and 'extraordinary.' This signals that Mowlana employs this verse not merely as a literary conclusion, but as a vital warning and admonition after unveiling deep secrets. The phrase 'This discourse, O company, has no end' tells us that this discussion, concerning existential transformation through love, is an boundless ocean. Its dimensions and implications are infinite, not confined to a single session or a single book. It is a surging sea of gnosis, where the deeper one delves, the more new horizons unfold.

And then, his command: 'Beware, guard the foundations of that fortress.' The phrase 'قلعه وجوه' (qale-ye vojooh) is a most intriguing expression. Vojooh can mean 'faces,' 'dimensions,' or 'principles.' Here, given the word 'fortress' (qale), it unequivocally refers to 'fundamental principles' and 'essential truths.' A fortress is a symbol of steadfastness, security, and a treasure that must be protected. These are not superficial ideas; rather, they are enduring foundations that must be embedded deep within the soul and shielded from oblivion and harm. Mowlana asks his audience not merely to remember these principles, but to preserve and safeguard them within their very being.

I have previously noted that Mowlana, in the spirit of this very discourse, presents something akin to Imam Hussein's statement: 'If you have no religion, then be free men in your world.' Mowlana translates this into the language of love, proclaiming: 'If you have no religion, then be a lover!' This, he asserts, makes one truly human; it transforms a devil into Gabriel. For him, love is the greatest alchemist and the supreme physician that purifies the soul from arrogance (nakhvat) and self-conceit (namoos), turning the inner devil into an enlightened angel. The 'fortress of principles' precisely represents these very tenets: the absolute power of love to purify, transform, and elevate existence. These are the dimensions of truth that must be held onto and protected as the impregnable stronghold of spiritual well-being. Mowlana does not merely want us to hear; he wants us to preserve these fundamental truths, making them an integral part of our very fabric.

Key takeaways

• The transformative power of love is an infinite and boundless discourse.
• The fundamental principles and truths of love are treasures that must be safeguarded.
• Mowlana urges listeners not just to hear, but to preserve these deep meanings within their being.
• Love, like an alchemist, possesses the ability to transform the inner devil into an enlightened angel.
• This verse serves as a vital admonition after the unveiling of profound existential secrets.