Concept Overview

In Chapter 47, Poem 94 of the Mokhtar Nameh, Attar uses the candle's relationship with honey to illustrate the necessity of spiritual suffering and burning for maturation.

Key Metaphors & Interpretation

• The Rawness in the Company of Honey: The wax of the candle originates from the beehive, where it was in the company of sweet honey. However, this state of comfort was 'raw' (kham), representing a spiritual state that has not yet been refined by trials.
• The Command to Burn: Because the candle did not achieve true intimacy or become a confidant (mahram) while in its original state, it must now burn. The burning represents the painful but purifying process of mystical love and spiritual trials.
• Striking the Head: The act of 'striking the head' refers to both the trimming of the candle's wick (which causes it to burn brighter but also leads to its self-consumption) and a gesture of remorse or self-reproach for failing to reach perfection ...