GREAT SUFI POETS: RUMI
Rumi Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, commonly known as Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic. He is considered one of the greatest poets in history and his works have been translated into many languages.
Early life : Rumi was born in 1207 in Balkh, a city in present-day Afghanistan. His family was originally from Central Asia, but they had migrated to Persia due to the Mongol invasions. Rumi’s father, Baha’ ud-Din Walad, was a prominent Islamic scholar and preacher who later became a Sufi mystic.
Education:
Rumi was educated in law, theology, and Islamic philosophy by his father and other scholars. He became a respected scholar himself and taught in several cities before settling in Konya, Turkey, where he spent most of his life.
Spiritual transformation
In 1244, Rumi met a wandering dervish named Shams al-Din, who became his spiritual mentor and friend. Their intense relationship transformed Rumi from a respected scholar into a mystic and poet. Rumi’s works are full of references to Shams, whom he regarded as his spiritual guide and the source of his inspiration.
Poetry and philosophy
Rumi’s poetry and philosophy are deeply rooted in Islamic mysticism, or Sufism. His most famous work is the Masnavi, a six-volume epic poem that explores the themes of love, spirituality, and the search for truth. Rumi’s poetry emphasizes the importance of love, both human and divine, as a path to union with God.
Legacy
Rumi died in 1273 and was buried in Konya, where his shrine remains a popular pilgrimage site. His works have had a profound influence on Persian literature and Islamic culture. In recent years, Rumi has become popular in the West as well, with translations of his poetry selling millions of copies and inspiring a wide range of readers and spiritual seekers.
Listen to the reed as it tells its tale;
it complains of separation from its source.
“Ever since they tore me from my reed bed,
my woeful song has caused men and women to weep.
I seek out those whose hearts are torn by separation,
for only they understand the pain of this longing.
Whoever is taken away from his homeland
yearns for the day he will return.
In every gathering, among those who are happy or sad,
I cry with the same lamentable voice.
I am that reed flute, cut from the cane field of reeds,
made into an instrument with a heart-melting voice.
I am the beloved’s confidant,
a friend to the one who has been deserted,
I attract the hearts of both saint and sinner.
I have no power to speak,
but I have a secret to tell.
For the sound of the reed is the sound of love itself.
The reed is the friend of the sorrowful;
its melodies console them.
The strains of the reed have the power
to bring tears from the hardest hearts.
Take up the reed and play your way back to God,
whose sweet presence has been hidden from you.
When you play the flute,
listen to its song,
and let it carry you beyond
the sound of words and into the spirit realm.
rumi
