M6:642 — نفی بگذار و همان هستی پرست / این در آموز ای پدر زان ترک مست

Translation: Abandon negation and worship that very Being (Hasti); Learn this, O father, from that intoxicated Turk.

Meaning: Mowlana, in this verse, invites us to transcend the stage of negating phenomena and determinations, urging us instead to worship and embrace absolute Being (Hasti)—a lesson to be learned from the figure of the 'intoxicated Turk'.

This verse, appearing among the concluding lines of the sixth book of the Masnavi, serves as a profound call to move beyond the stage of negation and doubt towards the realm of affirmation and faith. Prior to this beyt, Mowlana discusses various forms of 'masti' (intoxication) in detail: ordinary intoxication, the intoxication of knowledge, of art, and even the intoxication in the pursuit of truth. Yet, he then suggests that these initial intoxications are insufficient. One must 'ascend higher' (balātar kherām) and transcend even this state, for 'God's earth is vast' (arẓollāh vāseʿ) and the expanse of gnosis is endless. He challenges the 'I don't know' attitude of the intoxicated person, asking: 'What are these 'I don't knows' for? / So that you may say who it is you know?' Negation and denial are not the ultimate destination; they are merely a means to reach affirmation. Like Israfil, who breathes spirit and creates being, the seeker must become both 'intoxicated' and 'an intoxicator of others' (most o most-sāz).

Here, Mowlana introduces a profound point in mystical epistemology: 'Negation is for affirmation in speech' (nafi bahar sabt bāshad dar sokhan). This means the purpose of negating determinations, negating all that is other than the Real, and negating the self, is solely to arrive at the affirmation of the 'Real' and absolute 'Being' (Hasti). This 'negation' must not trap us in a whirlpool of doubt and fruitless 'I don't knows.' Rather, it must serve as a bridge to cross into the world of pure 'Being.' This is akin to the path of 'La ilaha illallah,' which moves from the negation 'La ilaha' (there is no god) to the affirmation 'Illallah' (but God). This abandonment of negation and turning towards the worship of Being is not merely a verbal choice; it is an existential and spiritual transformation.

Mowlana asks us to 'Abandon negation and worship that very Being' (nafi begozār o hamān hasti parast), meaning we should relinquish all that is not, all that is limited, and entrust our hearts solely to that which is pure Being and worship it. This is an invitation to existential monotheism, which guides the seeker from multiplicity to unity. He refers this fundamental lesson to the 'intoxicated Turk' (Turk-i Mast). The character of the 'intoxicated Turk' in Masnavi and mystical literature often symbolizes an unconditional, fearless, and self-annihilated lover, free from the constraints of apparent laws and customs, immersed in the fervor of love. He is wholeheartedly devoted to absolute Being and, for this reason, can be the teacher of such profound gnosis. Although Mowlana in this particular passage does not elaborate on the story or specific identity of this 'intoxicated Turk,' reserving it for another occasion, the mere reference to him indicates the depth and mysterious nature of this character and his role in conveying this important lesson.

Key takeaways

• The ultimate goal of negation is to arrive at the affirmation and worship of absolute Being.
• True gnosis does not halt at fruitless 'I-don't-knows' but progresses to an existential 'I know'.
• Initial intoxications and superficial understandings are stages that must be transcended to reach a higher station.
• The 'intoxicated Turk' symbolizes a fearless lover who teaches the unity of existence and devotion to pure Being.
• The seeker must become like Israfil, both intoxicated and an intoxicator, and find a spirit-giving essence.