(An extensive poem considered to be the greatest masterpie...)
An extensive poem considered to be the greatest masterpiece of Rumi
http://www.omphaloskepsis.com/Library/masnavi.pdf
Dīvān-e Shams-e Tabrīzī
(A collection of poems in the honor of his close friend Shams)
A collection of poems in the honor of his close friend Shams
http://www.bahaistudies.net/asma/divaneshams.pdf
Fihi Ma Fihi
(Rumi's prose work. The title can be translated as "It is ...)
Rumi's prose work. The title can be translated as "It is what it is"
http://rumisite.com/Books/FiheMaFih.pdf
Other Work
Collected Poetical Works of Rumi (Delphi Classics) (Delphi Poets Series Book 58) - Kindle edition by Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, Rumi. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
(The greatest Sufi mystic and poet in the Persian language...)
The greatest Sufi mystic and poet in the Persian language, Rumi has widely influenced mystical thought and literature throughout history. Today, Rumi is one of the most read poets of the world, whose wise teachings in ‘The Masnavi’ and exquisite verses of the ‘Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi’ transcend all boundaries in their mystic brilliance.
(I first came upon the magnificent Divani Shamsi Tabriz at...)
I first came upon the magnificent Divani Shamsi Tabriz at the now defunct Bodhi Tree bookstore on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. I was seventeen years old and I used to haunt that bookstore like a ghost who overstayed his welcome, primarily because they allowed its patrons to sit comfortably and read whatever was on their shelves for offer. I have a very fond memory of reading Rumi's deeply moving paens to his deceased mentor and friend, Shams of Tabriz. I eventually bought the paperback edition of the book and read it daily for years.
Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi, commonly known as Rumi, was a famous Persian poet, Sufi mystic and Islamic Dervish. His greatest masterpiece is Mas̄navī-yi Maʿnavī, an extensive poem regarded to be among most notable works of Sufism. His doctrine included great tolerance, goodness, love, positive reasoning and charity. Today, he is very popular in the United States and western Europe, as well as among the Persian speakers of Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan.
Background
Ethnicity:
He was born in the Persian Empire that existed at the time
Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi, widely known as Rumi, was born into a reputable family in Balkh, a Persian Empire province (today part of Afghanistan). His father was Bahāʾ al-Dīn Walad, a theologian, teacher, jurist and a mystic, while his mother was Mumina Khatun. Three countries claim that Rumi is their poet – Iran because he lived during the Persian Empire, Turkey because he spent most of his life in Konya, and Afghanistan because he was born on its ground.
Education
Being a part of a long line of scholars, Rumi enjoyed great respect and had an opportunity for excellent education. Unfortunately, they had to leave Balkh in 1218 due to the threat that was coming from Genghis Khan and the Mongols that invaded the Central Asia. During their passing through Nishapur (Iran), they met Farīd al-Dīn ʿAṭṭār, Persian teacher and a mystical poet, who blessed Rumi and gifted him his own copy of The Book of God (Ilahinama).
After going through Damascus, Erzincan, Kayseri and performing pilgrimage to Mecca, the expedition finally reached its desired destination – Anatolia region. This region was at peace and ruled by the Turkish Seljuq dynasty. Rumi’s family first stationed in Laranda for several years but moved to Konya, the region’s capital, in 1228, after Bahāʾ al-Dīn Walad was called to teach at a religious school (madrasah). Rumi accompanied him to Konya preparing under his father’s guidance to take over a role as the teacher.
Career
When his father died in 1231, Rumi took over his position as the teacher in a madrasah. Thanks to one of his father’s former followers, Burhān al-Dīn Muḥaqqiq, he had the opportunity for further training in the Tariqa (mystical teaching of Sufism) and the Shariah (Islam law). Burhan al-Din influenced Rumi significantly until 1240 when he either died or left Konya.
The biggest event in Rumi’s life occurred in 1244 when he met Shams al-Din of Tabriz, a holy man, and a wandering dervish. The holy man prayed for someone able to “endure his company” and a mystical voice told him to seek for Rumi. Once he found him, Rumi was truly inspired and was turned from a teacher into an ascetic. Two of them became pretty close and Rumi started to discover the mysteries of divine beauty and majesty. However, he started neglecting his family and followers, which they didn’t approve. One night in 1248, Shams simply disappeared and never showed up again. The historians believe that he was killed, and Rumi’s sons very much aware this was about to happen. According to the story, when Shams asked for ‘company’, he offered his head in return, and the deal came through – he really gave his life for a friendship.
Rumi was very sad that Shams was gone and this experienced turned him into a poet. He started writing Persian poems (ghazals) spontaneously, and these were later collected into The Dīvān-e Shams. These pieces were often composed with a whirling dance, prepared to be sung during Sufi’s musical gatherings.
Ṣālāḥ al-Dīn Zarkūb, an illiterate goldsmith but regardless one of the most loyal followers of Rumi was his next companion. The story goes that Rumi was passing through the bazaar of Konya when he heard hammer sounds from Salah al-Dīn’s shop and immediately started dancing. He was also inspired by the love of his eldest son and the goldsmith’s daughter, so he decided to write poetry again. When Salah al-Dīn died, Rumi took his favorite follower Ḥusām al-Dīn Chelebi under his guidance. Husam was a great inspiration to Rumi and is considered the one that supported him to write his greatest work, the Mas̄navī-yi Maʿnavī.
The Mas̄navī contain more than 25,000 couplets that Rumi recited and Husam carefully wrote them down. This work is based on Sanāʾi and ʿAṭṭār, poets known to lay down their mystical teachings in long poems, with fables, anecdotes, allegories and stories interspersed through them. The Mas̄navī shows various aspects of Sufism at the time.
After finishing the Mas̄navī, Rumi predicted in one his ghazals that his death is near. He died in 1273 in Konya, and his resting place is today the Mevlâna Museum, still a place of pilgrimage for Muslims from all over the world.
Rumi's poems have great influence in the Muslim world, especially Turkey and Iran. His influence is substantial in the Indian subcontinent, and his popularity in the United States and western Europe significantly raised by the end of the 20th century.
Achievements
Author of the Mas̄navī-yi Maʿnavī, an extensive poem that is considered to be the most influential work of Sufism;
(I first came upon the magnificent Divani Shamsi Tabriz at...)
Religion
Rumi was a Sufi mystic and he created one of the most notable works of Sufism with his Masnavi-yI Ma'navi
Politics
While Rumi did study Islamic law and Hanafi jurisprudence, he never engaged actively in politics. He preached that unlimited tolerance should be applied in all areas of life.
Views
Rumi’s doctrine advised great tolerance, goodness, positive reasoning, charity, and love. He looked at everybody in the same way, whether they were Muslims, Jews or Christians. This peaceful teaching is the reason why Rumi’s ideology reached numerous people of different sects and creeds.
The main theme of Rumi’s teachings is the one of tawhid (God is Single or One). He strongly advocated that poetry, dance, and music is the right path to reach God. Music is what helps us to focus on the divine. Rumi’s thought was the basis for forming the Mevlevi order, which was organized by his son Sultan Walad. He encouraged Sama, the sacred dance and a mystical journey where the seeker looks and finds the truth, arrives at the Perfect one and returns with bigger maturity, to serve the entire creating regardless of beliefs, classes or races.
Some sources allegedly state that Rumi was gay due to his close relationship with Shams al-Din of Tabriz. However, this was caused either by the rumors started by the ones that were jealous that Rumi ran away from his usual routine and didn’t focus his attention on them, or it was simply caused by misinterpreting his lyrics (for example, in Persian poetry, the word “lover” actually means “lover of God”). Either way, there is absolutely no basis to claim that Rumi was gay.
Quotations:
"The lover’s cause is separate from all other causes
Love is the astrolabe of God's mysteries."
"Why should I seek? I am the same as
He. His essence speaks through me.
I have been looking for myself!"
"When we are dead, seek not our tomb in the earth, but find it in the hearts of men."
Membership
Rumi's teachings served as the foundation for the Mevlevi Order, also known as Whirling Dervishes. The order was founded by Rumi's son.
The Mevlevi Order
,
Turkey
Personality
Rumi was a modest and peaceful man who was a great opponent of conflict.
Physical Characteristics:
His physical appearance was simple, completely in accordance with him being a modest theologian and mystic. He always wore a turban, a type of headwear primarily worn by Muslim men, and all other details were in accordance with his religion and teachings.
Quotes from others about the person
"Many Americans love Rumi for his ecstatic spirituality about divine love, but they prefer that he not be a Muslim, or at least no more than minimally. Therefore, most Rumi books are marketed to satisfy the wish for maximum mysticism and minimal Islam." - Ibrahim Gamard, Californi-based sheikh of the Mevlevi Order
Interests
Ney (Reed flute)
Philosophers & Thinkers
Bahāʾ al-Dīn Walad, Ibn al-ʿArabī
Politicians
Rukn ad-Din Kilij Arslan IV
Writers
Farīd al-Dīn ʿAṭṭār,
Music & Bands
dancing
Connections
Rumi married twice. First time it was to Gowhar Khatun in 1225. He had two sons with her - Ala-edding Chalabi and Sultan Walad. The second time was after his first wife died, and he hea a son and a daughter from that marriage.
Son:
Sultan Walad
Eldest son of Rumi and the founder of the Mevlevi Order, based on his teachings
Friend:
Shams al-Din Mohammad Tabrizi
He is regarded to be a very close friend and a spiritual instructor of Rumi
