Author – Labib Mahfuj Chisty
He who spoke in the language of the heart –
Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi is an immortal poet who could touch the sky with the light of the heart. The one who has taken himself to a unique height by observing his eternal form on the throne of consciousness, is Maulana Rumi. The one who established Sufism, that is, Islamic spirituality, on the pages of world literature, is Jalaluddin Rumi.
Maulana Rumi has surpassed himself time and again through the greater realization of the Supreme Being in the heart. Today’s program of Apna Khabar will include a brief discussion on the life philosophy of Rumi, the immortal poet of Persian literature and the immortal voice of spirituality.
Birth –
Maulana Rumi was born to Persian-speaking parents in the city of Balkh in present-day Afghanistan (Khwarizmi Empire). His birthplace was on the banks of the Balkh River in the Balkh Empire, now known as Tajikistan. He was born in Balkh on September 30, 1207.
Name and surname –
His full name was Jalaluddin Muhammad Balkhi or Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi. In English, he is known as Rumi. He is also called Maulana Rumi, Maulvi Rumi or Allama Rumi. He was also known as Mulla-e-Rum.
Education –
Jalaluddin Rumi was endowed with unique intellectual power from childhood. His father Bahauddin Walad was a famous theologian and researcher of that time. Under the supervision of his scholarly father, he acquired detailed knowledge of theology and various religious subjects from a young age. Apart from Rumi’s father, the two immortal figures of Sufi philosophy and the greatest saints and poets of the time, Fariduddin Attar and Hakim Sanai, had the greatest influence on Rumi’s life.
Life –
He spent his life in Persia during the Rum Sultanate. When the Mongols invaded Central Asia, Rumi’s father Bahauddin Walad set off westward with his entire family and a group of disciples. They went to Baghdad via Nishapur. Then they traveled to Damascus, Malatya, Erjikan, Sivas, Kayseri and Nigdi.
Meeting with Attar –
In Nishapur, Rumi met the famous saint and writer Fariduddin Attar. He prophesied about Rumi and gifted Rumi his book ‘Asrarnama’. In Karaman, Rumi married Gowhar Khatun. They had two children. Sultan Walad and Alauddin Chalabi. When his first wife died, Rumi married a second time and had a son, Alim Chalabi, and a daughter, Malakhi Khatun. In 1228, at the invitation of Kaykobad, the ruler of Anatolia, they settled permanently in Konya, the western region of the Rum Sultanate.
Meeting Shams Tabrizi –
Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi had established himself as a unique figure in religious knowledge at that time. He was respected as the greatest teacher in Konya. Thousands of students there were learning Ilm-e-Sharia from him. He earned the respect of everyone in religious external knowledge or textbook knowledge and was ruling the world of knowledge in Konya with great glory.
The arrival of Shams Tabrizi completely turned Rumi’s traditional life upside down. Shams Tabriz is a mysterious saint, known as the Sun of Dini Tabriz. His immense expertise in knowledge and understanding made him the greatest saint of his time. Yet, he had no peace in his heart.
All his life he has been searching for that unknown person, to whom Shams will reveal all the secrets of his lifelong knowledge. Who is that lover? The one who will hold all the priceless gems and rubies that reside in Shams’ inner world? He has been wandering all his life for that unknown lover.
Finally one day he hears a divine message. An invisible voice tells him, “Shams, go to Konya. Your desired lover is there.” Without a moment’s hesitation, Shams sets off for Konya.
The moon and the sun meet. Behind Shams, Rumi, a scholar, gradually turns into Rumi, the lover.
In search of spirituality –
Rumi undergoes religious initiation with Shams Tabriz for a long time. He travels to the abodes of the soul’s immortal love. He collects all the gems of the religious world. He becomes a pure lover. Rumi, a scholar of the former Sharia, danced to the rhythm of the music and music and realized the mystery of the Creator’s love.
Losing Shams –
The famous scholar Rumi turned into a madly loving saint in contact with Shams Tabrizi. Most of the people of the society of that time, including some family members, could not accept the matter very easily. Everyone started blaming Shams.
Shams left Konya. Rumi became arrogant and almost crazy. There was a fear of losing his life. His son Sultan Walad found Shams from Damascus. The love affair of the Guru devotee began again. They began to wander in solitude in the endless sea of knowledge. Society was again outraged. One of Rumi’s sons also joined them. Shams Tabrizi was killed in the darkness of the night.
Rumi became crazy like a lost jewel. He wept bitterly on the way. At one point, a fountain of divine mystery opened in his heart. He felt the luminous presence of Shams. He said,
“Why should I search for him?
He and I are one!
His existence exists within me
I am searching for myself.”
Beginning of writing –
Rumi’s writings were mainly inspired by the pain of separation from Shams Tabriz. Inspired by his beloved disciple Hussamuddin, he began writing Masnavi. Masnavi is not only the best masterpiece of Persian literature, but also of world literature. It is called the second Quran in Persian.
Contribution –
Rumi’s contribution was mainly in poetic literature. Most of his writings are quatrains and ghazals. In addition, there are some collections of letters.
Spiritual consciousness –
He had a deep spiritual outlook. His contribution to expanding religious idealism was the greatest. His epics are most relevant in traversing the mystical path.
Conclusion –
Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, the bright star of the spiritual world, will live forever as a guide to the world of mysteries. He breathed his last on December 17, 1273, in Konya, in the Rum Sultanate. His holy grave is located in Konya.
Date of writing – 10/08/2021
Author – Labib Mahfuj Chisty