The Moth and the Flame
A Tale of Love and Surrender
Rumi entered the room quietly, drawn by whispers of a flame that beckoned every soul. In the heart of the room, a candle burned, its light a beacon, a symbol of the Divine Presence. Insects circled, their voices filled with admiration for its warmth and beauty, yet none dared to approach too closely, content with mere glimpses of its splendor.
Among them, one moth remained silent. With unwavering resolve, it flew straight into the flame, a brief dance of light and shadow, before it was consumed. "Fool," the others murmured, their words laced with pity and scorn, failing to grasp the depth of its devotion.
Rumi closed his eyes, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "No," he whispered, "he was the only one who truly understood fana – the annihilation of the self in the Divine."
To speak of love is easy, a mere flutter of words. But to become love, to surrender completely to the Beloved, that is a path of ishq, a burning passion that consumes all but the Divine. Beside the candle that bears the light of life, the heart flutters like a moth, drawn to its flame, seeking tawhid – the Oneness of God. And within the glow of His love and warmth, it finds its true home, a testament to a love that transcends all earthly understanding, a reflection of the soul's yearning to return to its Source.
In the words of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),
"Die before you die."
The moth's sacrifice is a reminder of this profound truth, a call to shed the ego and embrace the eternal embrace of the Divine.