In Chapter 47, Poem 75 of Attar's Mokhtar Nameh, the poet employs the metaphor of a burning candle to illustrate the mystical concept of self-escape and ego-annihilation (fana).

Key Concepts

• The Dissatisfaction with the Self: The candle is never pleased with its own existence ('چون شمع دمی نبود خشنود از خویش'), representing the spiritual traveler's dissatisfaction with their individual ego or worldly selfhood.
• Burning as Liberation: When urged not to burn, the candle explains that its burning is not a destructive affliction, but a purposeful act of liberation—melting away its physical existence to quickly escape from itself ('تا برهم زود از خویش').
• Ego Dissolution: The smoke and melting of the candle represent the progressive dissolution of the ego, which is a prerequisite for achieving spiritual union and escaping the confines of individual identity.