M6:2244 — چون الف از خود فنا شد مکتنف / بی و سین بی او همی‌گویند الف

Translation: When the alif annihilates from its self and is concealed, The Bā and Sīn still pronounce the alif without it. Meaning: This verse offers a metaphor for the concept of fanā fi’llāh (annihilation in God); just as the letter alif is orthographically omitted from the word bismi but remains acoustically present, so too does the spiritual seeker attain subsistence in the Divine through the annihilation of their individual self.

This verse, in my view, presents one of Mowlana's most exquisite and profound allegories for the complex notion of fanā (annihilation) and wahdat (unity). We have discussed the 'fire of unity'—how it consumes all multiplicity and conceptual constructs, leaving nothing but the 'Face of God' (wajh Allāh). Here, Mowlana offers a tangible example of this very principle within the realm of words.

I believe Mowlana here casts an innovative gaze upon the orthography of "Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim." We know that the word ism (meaning 'name') begins with an alif (ا). However, in the compound form bismi (بِاسْمِ)—which is abbreviated as bismi (بسم) in written Arabic—that alif is omitted. In essence, the alif has undergone a visual fanā; it has vanished from its written form, becoming 'concealed' (muktanaf).

But does this imply its utter non-existence? Absolutely not. When we pronounce bismi, the sound of that alif is still undeniably present. The bā and sīn, despite the visible absence of the alif, still articulate the alif's presence. This is what I refer to as 'presence in absence': something that has been outwardly eliminated remains deeply present and effective in its meaning and function. This paradox is crucial.

Mowlana uses this simile to illuminate the path of the spiritual seeker. The seeker is urged to 'be spent in His Faces and Face' (dar vujūh-o vajh-e ū ru kharj sho); that is, to annihilate their limited, multiplicity-bound self within the Divine Face. This fanā is not mere destruction but an elevation from a separate, formal existence to a more integrated and profound presence. The alif, through its formal annihilation, does not cease to be; rather, it flows in a more fundamental and pervasive manner within the context of bismi. This is the great lesson of the Mathnawi: multiplicities must burn in the fire of unity for the singular essence of existence to unveil itself without obstruction.

Key takeaways

• Annihilation is Subsistence: The disappearance of a limited form signifies a deeper presence and subsistence in the unified reality.
• Presence in Absence: Like the omitted alif in bismi, unseen truths are profoundly present in meaning and function.
• The Fire of Unity: This verse exemplifies how multiplicity (the alif's omission) is consumed to reveal unity (the unified pronunciation of bismi).
• The Seeker's Station: The seeker must annihilate the self in the Divine Face, allowing divine truth to manifest through their apparent absence.