Overview

In this poem from Attar's Mokhtar Nameh, the candle's flame and physical structure serve as a profound allegory for spiritual pride, rebelliousness, and ultimate self-sacrifice.

Key Metaphors

• Rebelliousness (Sar-kashi): The candle raising its head represents the pride and ego (nafs) of the seeker who thinks highly of themselves.
• Burning and Beheading (Sookhtan o Boridan): The melting of the wax and the trimming of the wick represent the trials, tribulations, and eventual annihilation (fana) of the ego.
• The Secret (Sar): The inner secret or wick of the candle that drives its self-consumption, representing the divine spark or inner yearning that necessitates mystical dissolution.