Concept

The Paradox of Ineffable Knowledge and Bewilderment in Attar's Mokhtar Nameh (Chapter 11, Poem 30)

In Chapter 11, Poem 30 of Attar's Mokhtar Nameh, the poet explores the profound state of mystical bewilderment (hayrat). The speaker laments the loss of physical strength and the burning of the soul in confusion. The core paradox of this state is expressed when the mystic attains a unique, ineffable insight ('That thing which I know, which no one knew') yet remains fundamentally unable to articulate or rationally grasp it upon command ('They say, "Know it!" I do not know'). This reflects the Sufi theme that ultimate divine truth transcends intellectual comprehension, leaving the seeker in a state of helpless awe and 'unknowing'.

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Updated 2026-07-04

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Humanities

Literature

Persian Literature Prerequisite Course