M6:2007 — یا ابیت عند ربی خواندی / در دل دریای آتش راندی

Translation: Did you also recite abīt ʿinda rabbī (I spend the night with my Lord)? And did you ride into the heart of the sea of fire?

Meaning: Mowlana here asks if one has attained the elevated spiritual state of spending nights in the divine presence, much like the Prophet, and courageously plunged into the fiery essence of God's proximity.

In this verse, Mowlana, addressing either his inner self or his intimate companion, Shams or Husam al-Din, poses a question about a state I consider to be among the loftiest spiritual experiences. The phrase "Did you also recite abīt ʿinda rabbī?" refers directly to a famous hadith qudsi of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) where he stated: "Abītu ʿinda rabbī yuṭʿimunī wa yasqīnī" (I spend the night with my Lord; He feeds me and gives me drink). Sufis and mystics interpret this hadith not in a literal, physical sense, but as a metaphor for a spiritual banquet, an immersion in the beloved presence of God; an intimate communion where the soul is nourished and satiated.

Mowlana's query arises because such a presence is not merely tranquil. "And did you ride into the heart of the sea of fire?" highlights this aspect of the experience. It is as if entering this presence is not like stepping into a calm sea, but rather plunging into the core of a vast, blazing fire. This fire is the fire of love and divine manifestations, which consumes and melts the self, removing all particularities. It signifies the ultimate courage and daring of a soul that ventures into such an abyss, without fear of annihilation.

Yet, Mowlana continues by implying that such daring does not go unrewarded. "The cry 'O fire, be cool' has become your soul's safeguard, O guide." This line alludes to the Quranic verse, "Qulnā yā nāru kūnī bardan wa salāman ʿalā Ibrāhīm" (We said, 'O fire, be cool and peaceful upon Abraham'). This suggests that one who has ridden into this sea of fire is endowed with divine protection and immunity (ʿiṣmat). The fire does not consume their being; rather, it purifies and refines it, for God Himself safeguards their soul. This verse thus offers a precise image of the peak of mystical union and annihilation (fanāʾ); a state where the lover, despite entering the fiery realm of the Beloved, remains preserved from burning, and this very fire transforms into coolness and peace for them.

Key takeaways

• The verse refers to the exalted station of spiritual abiding and presence with God.
• "Abīt ʿinda rabbī" is a prophetic saying, symbolizing the pinnacle of divine spiritual communion.
• Entering the "sea of fire" of divine love signifies the seeker's profound courage and daring.
• This fire is not destructive; under divine protection (ʿiṣmat), it transforms into "coolness and peace."
• Mowlana utters this verse as a self-reflection or address to his intimate companion, contemplating a transcendental experience.