'Attar's Drunkenness on Love

Wisdom from the Other Side: Vol 2 - 'Fariduddin 'Attar

Jun 16, 2026

“And prepare to be a slave of Love. Give me such intoxicating Wine.” - ‘Attar

Who Was He?

The Persian Mystic, ‘Fariduddin or ‘Attar of Nishapur (AD 1145-1221; AH 530-617) is considered a foundational Sufi poet who influenced later figures like Rumi. A pharmacist by trade (attar),1 he transitioned from physical healing to spiritual healing. His masterpiece, The Conference of the Birds, is an allegorical epic poem depicting the soul’s arduous search for God; it epitomizes Sufi soteriology. He also authored Tadhkirat al-Awliya, a hagiographic collection of Muslim mystic saints.2 ‘Attar is known for his provocative style, using vivid imagery of “drunkenness” and “love” to describe his religious ecstasy and challenge religious hypocrisy.

The Quote

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

I Shall be Drunk Tonight

I shall be drunk tonight and
Dance with a cup of wine in my hand!
I shall wander through the streets
Of drunkenness and lose all in a game of chance.
How long shall I be a hypocrite?
How long will I worshi my Self?
I want to tear this veil of puritan pride;
I want to break this false vow of abstinence;
Time has come to have some courage
And prepare to be a slave of Love.
Give me such intoxicating wine, O Saqi [wine-server];
Hurry or the sorrow will prevade my soul!
Pass the wine, yes, pass the wine!
So that we can bring down the skies under our feet,
So Mercury becomes obedient to our wish,
And Venus our adoring lover.
Like Attar we shall cross the bounds
And lose ourselves in bounless love!

- ‘Attar3

Whirling dervishes performing a spiritual dance — Photo by sıtkı aksoy on Unsplash

Reflection

‘Attar’s “I Shall be Drunk Tonight” is not about a night of drinking or drunkenness in the normal sense, but is a manifesto of spiritual drunkness in protest.

“Wine” in Sufi poetry is a metaphor for the intoxicating love of God that, when it is consumed like normal alcohol, rids the self of one’s normal faculties. Here, ‘Attar is stating he is tired of being a “hypocrite” who follows the rules of religion just for vanity. He calls out a “puritan pride” that makes us feel superior when following the ways of religion; instead, ‘Attar suggests this pride keeps us disconnected from the true reality - God.

He urges that staying “sober” is a trap that hinders one from finding the real freedom in God, and that when we stop worshipping ourselves and concentrating on what others think, we can break the veil, and find the wine of God. By choosing to become drunk with the wine of God and thereby be a “slave of Love,” the seeker actually gains true life and freedom, becoming one who can truly know his master.

Share Monks & Minarets

Point of Contact

‘Attar’s protest against religious hypocrisy has rung true throughout history, from the modern era back to the time of Jesus. In fact, one can hear echoes of ‘Attar’s critique in Christ’s own words to the Pharisees,

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”4

I believe this poem shares several points of contact with the broader Christian tradition. This imagery of “drunkenness” and “love” resonates deeply in Christian mysticism, from Western mystics like John of the Cross, Bernard of Clairvaux, and Teresa of Avila, to Eastern mystics like Symeon the New Theologian, in their descriptions of “Bridal Chamber” mysticism.

Even more concretely, the “wine” in ‘Attar’s work echoes the “new wine” found in the Gospel narratives.5 In both traditions, when we are filled with the wine of God, we receive new life, freedom, and intimacy with the Divine. In many ways, the specific experiences and theological realities here are fundamentally different, yet many spiritual experiences draw striking similarities.

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?