Concept

In the Third Discourse of Attar's Elahi Nameh, the father responds to his son's desire for a child by warning of the spiritual dangers of parenthood for a novice on the Sufi path.

Key Themes

• Distraction from Gnosis: The father argues that a seeker who is still a beginner ('novice in this endeavor') will become distracted and spiritually 'defective' if they have a child, ultimately losing their connection to divine secrets ('the secret of gnosis').
• The Faith of Abraham: The father contrasts this novice state with the 'religion of Abraham.' For a true spiritual master, like Abraham, having a child does not sever the connection with God because they possess the profound detachment and willingness to sacrifice even their own beloved child for the Divine. Thus, earthly attachments like parenthood are only safe for those who have achieved total spiritual surrender.