M6:591 — بانگ آبم من به گوش تشنگان / هم‌چو باران می‌رسم از آسمان

Translation: I am the call of water to the ears of the thirsty; Like rain, I descend from the sky. Meaning: This verse declares that the spiritual message and divine guidance, for truly thirsty souls, is like the sound of water and abundant rain descending from the heavens to quench their longing.

This verse appears amidst a profound and enigmatic narrative in the sixth book of the Masnavi, a tale of spiritual slumber and the call to awakening. Mawlana speaks of a “sleeper” (khvābnāk), one steeped in heedlessness, who, whenever on the verge of waking, is caressed by the “nurse of doubt” (dāyeh-ye vasvās – temptation, skepticism, and trivial worldly preoccupations). This nurse whispers, “Go to sleep, my dear, for we shall not allow anyone to rouse you from your slumber.” These are the forces that prevent souls from awakening to truth, lulling them into spiritual unconsciousness.

Yet, in the midst of this struggle, Mawlana abruptly shifts tone, presenting himself — or rather, the divine message he conveys — as the “call of water” (bāng-e āb). This call is addressed to the “thirsty” (teshnegān), meaning those who, deep within their being, yearn for truth, even if outwardly they appear lost in heedless sleep. This call of water is not from a distance; rather, Mawlana himself, acting as the tongue of truth, utters this summons. As I have often remarked, Mawlana begins the Masnavi with “Listen!” (Beshnav), not “Say!” (Qul), signifying that he considers himself the eloquent voice of truth, not merely its conveyor. Here, he declares, “I am the call of water” – a profound assertion that he himself is the source of this life-giving call.

The simile “Like rain, I descend from the sky” emphasizes two crucial points: first, the abundance and generosity of this divine gift. Rain falls unasked and without calculation, reaching everyone. This divine knowledge and love are similarly boundless; they are not restricted to any particular group, and anyone who is thirsty within can partake of them. Second, it highlights its celestial origin. This water does not spring from earthly wells or human rivers; its source is divine, from the realm of meaning, descending to quench earthly souls. This is an allusion to the sacred and heavenly nature of the Masnavi’s message.

Following this glorious declaration, Mawlana immediately addresses the lover with a firm and admonishing tone: “Arise, O lover, throw off your anxiety! The call of water and a thirsty one, and then sleep?!” This astonishment and denial stem from the very logic of love. How can one truly be thirsty, hear the call of water, and yet continue to sleep in heedlessness? This is the stark contradiction Mawlana poses to us. If we claim thirst, and the pure water of truth has arrived, then there is no longer any room for sleep or unconsciousness. The anxiety and perturbation of waking must be cast aside, and one must rush towards this life-giving call. This is the true meaning of “uprooting oneself from the depth of sleep” – tearing out the roots of heedlessness from the core of one’s being. This is the task the seeker must undertake, moving towards awakening and union by accepting this divine invitation. The Masnavi, in its entirety, is the call of this water of life and rain of gnosis for parched souls.

Key takeaways

• The spiritual message (channeled by Mawlana) is like the call of water and rain: life-giving, abundant, and of celestial origin.
• Truly thirsty souls cannot resist the call of water and continue to sleep; this is a call to awakening.
• This verse serves as a warning against the “nurse of doubt” (temptation and heedlessness) that lulls thirsty souls to sleep.
• Mawlana sees himself not merely as a conveyor of the message, but as the “call of water” itself, actively summoning souls toward truth.
• It is an invitation to action: “Arise, O lover!” signifies that spiritual awakening requires movement and shedding anxiety.