M6:1009 — حلقه در زد چو در را بر گشود / رفت بی‌خود در سرای آن جهود

Translation: He knocked, and as the door was opened, / He entered, utterly beside himself, into the Jew's house. Meaning: This verse describes Abu Bakr's fearless and ecstatic entry into the house of Bilal's torturer, driven by his divine zeal and passionate love.

This verse vividly portrays a scene of passionate zeal: the entry of Abu Bakr, the Ṣiddīq-i Akbar (the Utmost Truthful), into the house of the man torturing Bilal. The pivotal point here is Abu Bakr being 'bi-khod' (beside himself). This is not unconsciousness or unawareness; rather, it signifies a state of mystical ecstasy, divine fervor, and self-abandonment in the path of Truth. He pays no heed to social courtesies or seeking permission; it is as if a transcendent force propels him forward. In essence, this self-abandonment is the very embodiment of the divine imperative; when divine zeal overflows in the heart of the seeker, conventional calculations and considerations fall away.

Mawlana further explains that Abu Bakr entered, "ecstatic and full of fire," and "many bitter words spewed from his mouth." This 'fire' is the same fire celebrated repeatedly in the Masnavi, the fire of love and zeal that liberates the seeker from rawness and inaction. His bitter words stem not from malice, but from the sincerity of his conviction and his wrath against injustice. These words are the manifestation of the very truth that ignited within Abu Bakr's heart.

Yet, a subtle but significant point must be emphasized here. In this narrative, Mawlana uses terms such as 'the Jew' (آن جهود) and, in subsequent verses, 'female in the Jewish faith' (در دین جهودی ماده‌ای). While such language is regrettable and even condemned today, it is a product of Mawlana's era. As I have often reiterated, our great figures 'managed to peek their heads out from under the quilt of their culture,' but their physical bodies inevitably breathed the air and climate of their cultural epoch. The fact that Mawlana himself employs such terms illustrates how certain prevailing ideas and intellectual trends of an era can cast shadows even upon profound thoughts. Our task here is not to justify, but to analyze and comprehend the historical and cultural circumstances, and, of course, to separate the essence of the spiritual message from the linguistic frameworks of its time. This nuance should not divert us from the profound spiritual depth of the story and Abu Bakr's action; rather, it offers a deeper insight into how even great mystics can become enmeshed in the prevailing notions of their age. This point in no way diminishes Mawlana's stature, but rather opens a path to a more realistic understanding of the relationship between an era and its great figures.

Key takeaways

• To be 'beside oneself' (bi-khod) here signifies spiritual intoxication and righteous zeal, not unconsciousness.
• Abu Bakr's 'uncontrolled' action prioritizes divine love and fervor over worldly decorum and social norms.
• His 'fire' and 'bitter words' manifest wrath against injustice and sincerity in divine love.
• Terms like 'Jew' and 'female' in this verse highlight the influence of cultural assumptions of Mawlana's era, even on great thinkers.
• The verse emphasizes that divine zeal can compel the seeker to break conventional rules to defend truth and justice.