M6:4164 — من نخواهم زد دگر از خوف و بیم / این چنین طبل هوا زیر گلیم

Translation: No longer shall I, out of fear and dread, / Beat this drum of desire beneath a rug. Meaning: The lover declares that from this moment forward, they will no longer conceal their ardent desires or love out of fear, but will express them openly and without reservation.

This verse is spoken from the perspective of an impatient and restless lover, one who has broken free from the shackles of fear and apprehension. The idiom "to beat the drum of desire beneath a rug" signifies speaking of one's heartfelt longings secretly, in hushed tones, away from prying eyes. Mowlana, through the voice of this lover, declares that the era of such concealment is over. At this stage of spiritual journey, love has ignited so fiercely that it has reduced all forms of patience and fear to ashes. As stated in preceding verses: "My patience died the night that love was born / It passed away; may you, its mourners, live long!" This is a blessed death – the death of patience, submission, and caution, giving birth to courage and audacity. What we hear from the lover in this verse is a public and audacious declaration of their desires. No longer does the lover, out of fear of others' reactions or the apprehension of external consequences, beat their drum of love "beneath a rug." Instead, as Mowlana himself states in the subsequent line, "Now I hoist my banner in the desert / Either losing my head, or seeing the Beloved's face." This means that love casts aside all rational considerations and prudent calculations, opening a path of utter passion and abandon. Such a lover detests "beating cold iron"—meaning futile advice about potential repercussions—and considers any warning of danger, when compared to the pain of their longing, "absolute jest." This is the station of liberation from awe and the ascent into love, where fear of God or creation gives way to gnostic courage and daring. This fearless nature stems from Mowlana's own inner state, who considers love the sustenance of the soul and the essence of existence, deeming everything else a veil upon the vision of the Beloved.

Key takeaways

• True love burns away fear and apprehension, taking their place entirely.
• The era of concealing love is over; now is the time for open declaration.
• The lover sets aside all rational considerations and worldly consequences for union with the Beloved.
• Audacity and fearlessness are marks of love's depth and intensity.
• To "beat the drum of desire beneath a rug" symbolizes hiddenness and lack of candor in the spiritual path, which must be transcended.