Today's Rumi: Myth or Reality?

The Wisdom of this world brings increase of supposition and doubt; the wisdom of Religion soars above the sky. {The Mathnawi Vol. II p.387 (Book II, 3201-3)}

  Rumi's quotes are widely shared on the internet as words of wisdom particularly for those who battle with depression and anxiety and for some Rumi has helped them travel their 'spiritual journeys'.

   There are hundreds of books and articles written on Rumi but unfortunately none speak about his religious zeal and vigor to serve religion and particularly in following the tradition of the holy Prophet of Islam (may peace and blessings be upon him).

   Somehow it seems there is a plot stirred by few western poets and self proclaimed spiritual gurus/masters of today who claim to follow Rumi's path of love but through their vague translations and apprehensions are trying to give Rumi's work a secular color by removing Islamic belief and conviction from Rumi's heart.

   This particular notion has been popularized so successfully that many people think that Rumi started as scholar of Islam in his initial days but later when he turned towards mysticism he started propagating the philosophy of universal love transcending a particular religion (Islam). 

   This is completely baseless and an insult to Rumi, as from his poetic works and biography (both originally written in Persian) we come to know Rumi's conviction in Islam and his orthodoxy numerous times, some of which we shall be discussing in this blog.

Rumi's Background-

   Rumi was born in the year 1207 C.E in the ancient city of Balkh in present day Afghanistan, it was a major center for Islamic learning even before Rumi was born. 

His full name was Jalaluddin Muhammad al- Balkhi, later when he shifted to Rum (Anatolia in modern Turkey) hence called Jalaluddin Muhammad al-Rumi.

His father Bahauddin Valed was a famous scholar and mystic of his time, he had many disciples and followers which made certain scholars jealous of him.

   At the age of 22 Rumi along with his father arrived at Konya where Bahauddin Valed started teaching in a madrassa, after the death of his father Rumi took over the teaching job at the instance of the Sultan of Konya. (who was also the disciple of his father)

Rumi belonged to the Hanafi school of Islamic law, one of the four orthodox legal traditions of Sunni branch of Islam. 

   Rumi was sent to Syria for obtaining traditional Islamic education by one of his teacher Sayyid Burhanuddin who was the disciple of Rumi's father. 

He was responsible to instill the love of Persian poetry in Rumi.

Rumi at a very young age memorized the Qur'an as Rumi's poetic masterpiece Mathnawi is filled with Qur'anic parables and verses.

During the stay in Syria, Rumi had benefited from the company of  Mohiuddin ibn Arabi and Sadr Uddin Konavi.

Rumi turns towards Mysticism -

   Rumi met Shams Tabrez at the age of 37, by this time Rumi was already a famous scholar in Islamic sciences, logic and jurisprudence.

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Malik D'ad also known as Shams Tabrez had a solid Islamic education and was fluent in Arabic and Persian.

He belonged to the Shafi'i school of thought another major school of Sunni Islamic law.

Shams Tabrez was very particular in following the orthodox school of Islam and in following the example of the Prophet (pbuh).

He is reported to have criticized Omar Khayyam, a Persian polymath and philosopher for not being particular in following the example of the Prophet (pbuh).

   Sipah Salar, a major biographer of Rumi states Maulana Rumi and Shams Tabrez remained in solitude for six months where only few close associates were allowed to enter.

the company of Shams Tabrez opened a new vista of the hidden realm to the view of Rumi who now felt an urge to grasp the mysteries of earth and heavens through spiritual illumination.

Prayers of Rumi 

  Rumi was very particular in offering the five daily prayers on its appointed time.

No Sooner had the time for an obligatory prayers arrived then Rumi was a completely changed man. (Sawaneh, pg35)

Sipah Salar narrates- He would immediately turn towards Ka'ba, his face turning pale and he would soon be lost in prayers, he would often spend his entire night in prayers. (sipah salar pg21)

Rumi's grandson Aflaki narrates - "Maulana prayed the five daily ritual Islamic prayers, fasted during the month of Ramadan and did many extended voluntary fasts"

 

   Once Rumi was performing his prayers in a wintry cold night. His tears trickled down his face on the beard, turning the tears into heads of ice owing to the intense cold, but he remained engaged in his prayers without being even aware of it. (Saviours of Islamic Spirit p. 335)

   During his later years Rumi had taken upon himself to give juristic opinions on religious and legal matters referred to him by people according the laws of Shari'a and the traditions of the Prophet (pbuh) for which he received a stipend of 15 dinars a month. (Sawaneh pg. 39)

      

The Qur'an and The Prophethood in the eyes of Rumi:

Praising the Prophet and asserting the supremacy of Islam Rumi says:

"The light of Muhammad has become a thousand branches (of knowledge), a thousand, so that both this world and the next have been seized from end to end, if Muhammad rips the veil open from a single such branch, thousands of monks and priests will tear their string of false belief from around their waists". (Rumi and Islam pg.177) 

Rumi while stating the importance of following the Qur'an and religious rituals Rumi says :

Flee to God's Qur'an, take refuge in it

there with the spirits of the prophets merge.

the Book conveys the prophets' circumstances
those fish of the pure sea of Majesty. (Lewis, 2000 pg.408)

Rumi also States:

I am the servant of the Qur'an as long as I have life.
I am the dust on the path of Muhammad, the Chosen one.
If anyone quotes anything except this from my sayings,
I am quit of him and outraged by these words. (Rumi and self discovery, dar al Masnavi.)

Rumi upholds the authority of prophets and messengers and says in -

   These mystery-telling Messengers of the hidden mind require a hearer who has the nature of Israfil (the archangel who is always listening eagerly for the Divine command to the trumphet on the day of resurrection)

 Further Rumi says Until you perform the observances due to them, how will you gain profit from their message. {The Mathnawi Vol IV pg.2029(Book III, 3604-7)}

Thereafter Rumi asks: why should not the prophets be dignified? They have to be lordly for they are the Apostles of the Lord of the worlds,

How is every (kind of) observance acceptable to them?- for they have come from the sublime Palace. {Vol II, pg. 202 (book III,3609)}

On the very first page of Mathnawi (poetic work of Maulana Rumi)

Rumi states- 

This is the book of the Masnavi, and it is the roots of the roots of the roots of the (Islamic) Religion and it is the Explainer of the Qur'an.

 

Rumi states in his Diwan -

The Sufi is hanging on to Muhammad, like Abu Bakr (Rumi and Islam, pg.171 Ibrahim Gamard)

Abu Bakr was the closest companion of the Prophet (pbuh) and the first caliph of Islam.

Here Rumi says - A person who calls himself a Sufi should be closest in imitating the traditions of the Prophet (May peace and blessings of Almighty be upon him).

Conclusion-

The Mathnawi enjoys to this day the widest popularity as a manual of guidance for those who want to be infused with a fervor of Divine love, learning and union.

Today in the name of enlightment, consciousness and mysticism the works of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi are being used and are being interpreted which Maulana never intended it to be. 

Today a section of the society instead of taking inspiration from Rumi, are busy holding musical recitations and concerts of whirling frenzy shows.

"They dilated upon his work but cared not to understand at all,

The content of his words eluded these fellows like a ghezal (a beautiful deer)

Nothing they learnt save the chant and whirl,

And shut their eyes to the dance of soul". (Javed Nama, p.245)

In western countries people love Rumi for his works on Devine love and spirituality but they don't want to here more about Rumi as soon as Rumi's Islamic identity is mentioned.

With such double standards how much will they benefit from Rumi's spiritual discourses ?

The truth is that without following Maulana's exoteric, one cannot reach his esoteric.

To grasp the essence of  Rumi it is expected that the followers of Rumi dive into Rumi's exterior as well and reap complete benefits from his Divine message.

  Lastly, in the words of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal-

        Have Rumi as thy guide and spiritual mentor, 

                              Thy heart shall be filled, God-willing, with a mighty fervor.

Rumi can cleave the kernel from its shell,

                 Since implanted firmly is his foot in the path of love.