Rumi

Jalal al-Din Rumi, Showing His Love for His Young Disciple Hussam al-Din Chelebi

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Shams ud-Din Tabriz 1502-1504 BNF Paris

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Ahmad ibn Hajji Abi Bakr al-Katib - Double-page Illuminated Frontispiece - Walters W6252B - Full Page

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Maulana Jelaledin Muhammad Rumi in konya

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Meeting of Jalal al-Din Rumi and Molla Shams al-Din

Rumi (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, was a 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic originally from Greater Khorasan in Iran. Rumi's influence transcends national borders and ethnic divisions, with his poems having been widely translated into many of the world's languages and transposed into various formats. He has been described as the "most popular poet" and the "best-selling poet" in the United States.

Life

Rumi was born to native Persian-speaking parents, originally from the Balkh, in present-day Afghanistan. He lived most of his life under the Seljuk Empire, eventually settling in the town of Konya, in present-day Turkey. Following the death of Rumi's father, Bahā' ud-Dīn Walad, a noted theologian, Rumi inherited his position as the Islamic molvi. He was introduced to the path of Sufism by a wandering dervish, Shams of Tabriz. The profound bond between Rumi and Shams led to a period of intense creativity for Rumi. After Shams disappeared, Rumi's grief found expression in poetry that was rich in spiritual longing and the search for union with the divine.

Works

Rumi's major work is the Masnavi, a six-volume poem regarded by some Sufis as the Persian-language Quran. The Masnavi is a spiritual text that teaches Sufis how to reach their goal of being in true love with God. Another significant contribution is his Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, a collection of lyric poems that contains more than 40,000 verses. His works are characterized by a celebration of the limitless potential of the human mind and the love between humans and God.

Philosophy

Rumi's philosophy was primarily concerned with the personal relationship with God and the concept of tawhid - the unity of being. He believed that love is a transformative force that can lead the individual to the realization and union with the divine. Rumi's teachings emphasize the abandonment of ego and personal desires, focusing on the inner journey towards spiritual enlightenment and connection with the divine.

Legacy

Rumi's teachings have had a significant impact on both Sufi and Islamic thought and culture, influencing not only Persian literature but also the literary traditions of the Ottoman Turkish, Chagatai, Urdu, and Pashto languages. His work has been appreciated for its depth in spiritual insight and its contribution to the understanding of the human soul and its relationship with God. Rumi's poetry and philosophy continue to be relevant in contemporary discussions on spirituality, peace, and tolerance.

See Also

• Sufism
• Persian literature
• Islamic poetry
• Spiritual literature