The Fire, the Child’s Call to Faith, and the Illusion of Fear | Chapter 7 of The Masnavi
Faith Over Fear and the Miracle of Divine Mercy in Rumi’s Tale of the Fire and the Child | Chapter 7 of The Masnavi (Book One) Chapter 7 of The Masnavi unfolds one of Rumi’s most dramatic and spiritually charged narratives. In this powerful allegory, a tyrannical king attempts to annihilate followers of Jesus by forcing them to bow to an idol or be cast into a blazing fire. Yet what appears as certain death becomes a gateway to divine mercy. A child thrown into the flames calls out to his mother, urging her to join him—revealing that the fire harms none of the faithful. This miracle transforms terror into trust, prompting believers to leap into the flames willingly, embracing faith over fear. Through this gripping story, Rumi illustrates the illusory nature of fear, the sovereignty of divine command, and the way sincere faith transforms even destruction into salvation. Watch the full chapter breakdown here: The Tyrant’s Test and the Illusion of Fear The chapter begins with ...