Quatrain 71 from Rubaiyat of Rumi
منصور بدآن خواجه که در راه خدا
از پنبهٔ تن جامهٔ جان کرد جدا
منصور کجا گفت اناالحق میگفت
منصور کجا بود خدا بود خدا
Description:
English Translation of the Quatrain
Mansur was that master who, on God's path,
Tore away the garment of the soul from the cotton of the body.
Where was Mansur when he said, "I am the Truth"?
Where was Mansur? It was God who was God.
Analysis of the Quatrains
Mansur Hallaj: Mansur al-Hallaj was a 10th-century Sufi mystic who famously declared "Ana al-Haqq" (I am the Truth), for which he was executed.
The Unity of Being: This quatrain explores the concept of the unity of being, a central theme in Sufism, suggesting that the individual soul can become one with the divine.
The Paradox of Existence: The lines "Where was Mansur when he said, 'I am the Truth'? Where was Mansur? It was God who was God" highlight the paradoxical nature of this mystical union. When the individual becomes one with the divine, the individual self, in a sense, ceases to exist.
Deeper Meanings
This quatrain, like much of Rumi's poetry, can be interpreted on multiple levels:
Mystical Union: The poet is celebrating Mansur's radical act of claiming divine identity, which is seen as a symbol of the ultimate union between the individual soul and God.
The Nature of Reality: The quatrain questions the nature of reality and the boundaries between the individual and the divine.
The Cost of Spiritual Awakening: Mansur's execution highlights the risks and sacrifices associated with seeking spiritual enlightenment.