In Section 20 of Jami's Silsilat al-Dhahab (Haft Awrang), the story of the King of Tirmidh serves as a profound ethical and spiritual allegory concerning the conflict between passion (hawa) and the duties of sovereignty and faith (din).

Key Themes

• The Threat of Obsessive Passion: The king's intense infatuation with a handmaiden disrupts his ability to govern his kingdom and fulfill his religious duties, symbolizing how earthly desires (nafs) can compromise the intellect and spiritual integrity.
• Divine Deliverance through Supplication (Du'a): Unlike other Persian allegories where temptations are violently eliminated, Jami highlights the efficacy of humble supplication. The king turns directly to God, begging for the erasure of the handmaiden's image from his heart. This underscores that true self-control and deliverance from lust require divine assistance.
• Sovereignty of the Self: The narrative reinforces the Sufi teaching that external rule is impo...