In Chapter 47, Poem 61 of the Mokhtar Nameh, Attar utilizes the metaphor of a candle to convey the urgency of active engagement in the face of inevitable mortality:

• The World as a Prison of Annihilation: Attar describes the earthly world as a 'prison of annihilation' (habs-e fana) where all living things are bound to die.
• The Transience of Life: Human life is depicted as fleeting as 'flashing lightning' (barq-e jahandeh), emphasizing the extreme brevity of our existence.
• The Metaphor of the Standing Candle: The candle is a symbol of standing upright (bar sar-e pa) until its final moment. Attar admonishes the seeker not to sit down in complacency or passivity, but to remain active, vigilant, and upright on the spiritual path until death takes them.