M6:2892 — بعد تو مرگیست با درد و نکال / خاصه بعدی که بود بعد الوصال

Translation: After You, there is a death with pain and punishment; Especially a separation that comes after union.

Meaning: Here, Mowlana offers a fervent prayer, imploring the Divine Beloved not to withdraw the sweetness of spiritual union, for a separation experienced after such a profound connection is an agony far more bitter and destructive than any initial estrangement.

This couplet presents one of Mowlana's rare and poignant prayers, wherein his very soul trembles with the dread of separation following union. Mowlana, without reserve, implores the Divine Beloved: if once You have allowed me to taste the sweet draught of union, do not reclaim it, do not embitter my palate. He emphatically states that separation after experiencing union is infinitely more agonizing and bitter than any initial estrangement. For one who has savored the delight of oneness cannot bear the anguish of distance and the alteration of that exalted state. This tremor of anxiety is a universal concern among mystics: the fear that the path they have arduously trodden, the spiritual station they have attained, might be lost in a sudden lapse. As Mowlana himself says elsewhere: “Be aware, for when the wind of divine independence blows, a thousand harvests of obedience are not bought for half a grain.” This conveys that the mystic must always consider himself reliant on God's grace, attributing all spiritual gains to divine favor, and never succumb to self-conceited delusions.

Mowlana expresses this same sentiment even more profoundly in another ghazal: “O God, turn not this union into separation; make not the joyful ones of love lament. On the tree where Your bird nests, break not the branch, make not the bird fly. Nothing in the world is bitterer than separation; do what You will, but do not do that.” This fervent supplication underscores the depth of his fear of having the blessing of union withdrawn. The word nekāl in the beyt signifies punishment or chastisement; thus, distance from the Truth after union is itself the greatest pain and punishment. Here, Mowlana speaks from the position of a loyal and ethical servant, who, having maintained 'method' (ravash) and 'decorum' (adab), asks God not to be indifferent to his affliction. This stance contrasts with Mowlana’s usual perspective that 'the decorum of love is entirely without decorum.' However, in this instance, the seeker's need and his fear of spiritual downfall overcome the 'indecorum of love,' leading him to a posture of prayer and a plea for the preservation of grace. This request can be categorized alongside other prayers by Mowlana, such as 'perfect our light' (atmem nūranā) in the context of the Day of Judgment, all of which emphasize the continuation and completion of divine light and blessings, revealing his fear of their potential decline.

Key takeaways

• Separation following spiritual union is an intensified, soul-destroying agony, which Mowlana deems worse than death itself.
• The fear of spiritual regression and losing divine blessings after achieving union is a universal concern among mystics.
• Mowlana, in this specific prayer, speaks from the position of a loyal and ethical servant, rather than the unrestrained lover who breaks all conventions.
• Preserving union necessitates constant supplication and reliance on God's grace, always seeking its continuation.