Rumi (1207–1273)

Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi was a 13th-century Persian poet, mystic, Islamic scholar, and theologian, widely considered one of the greatest spiritual masters and literary figures in Islamic civilization. His poetry and teachings, centered around divine love and spiritual union with God, have transcended time and religious boundaries, deeply influencing Sufism and Islamic philosophy.

1. Background

Origin – Born in Balkh (in present-day Afghanistan), Rumi later settled in Konya (in present-day Turkey) after his family fled the Mongol invasions.

Career – Initially trained as a jurist and theologian, Rumi succeeded his father as a religious teacher in Konya. His life changed dramatically upon meeting the wandering mystic Shams al-Tabrizi, whose spiritual companionship transformed him from a scholar of religion into a poet of divine love. After Shams’s disappearance, Rumi’s intense grief became the wellspring of his most profound poetry and mystical insight.

2. Education and Influences

Teachers

• Baha al-Din Walad: His father, a scholar and Sufi, was Rumi’s first teacher in Islamic jurisprudence and spirituality.

• Burhan al-Din Muhaqqiq al-Tirmidhi: After Baha al-Din’s death, Burhan al-Din (a disciple of Rumi’s father) continued Rumi’s training in theology, Sufism, and spiritual discipline.

Influences

• Shams al-Tabrizi: His spiritual mentor and the greatest influence on Rumi’s inner transformation.

• Classical Sufi tradition: Especially the teachings of Abu Yazid al-Bistami, al-Hallaj, and al-Ghazali, who emphasized love, annihilation of the ego (fana’), and direct experience of the Divine.

• Quran and Hadith: The ultimate foundation of his mystical worldview, with the Divine Word serving as both inspiration and proof of unity.

• Persian poetic heritage: Building on poets like Attar and Sana’i, Rumi gave Sufi ideas their most lyrical and universal form.

3. Main Themes of His Philosophical Thought

Divine Love (Ishq Ilahi)

• For Rumi, love is the central force of existence — the power that moves the cosmos and draws the soul toward God. Love is both the path and the destination; through it, the seeker transcends separation and realizes union with the Beloved. His poetry expresses this as an inner fire that burns away the self and reveals divine presence in all things.

Unity of Being (Tawhid and Wahdat al-Wujud)

• Although not a systematic philosopher in the technical sense, Rumi articulated a profoundly monistic vision of reality. All existence, he taught, reflects the light of the Divine. The multiplicity of forms in creation is but a veil over the single Reality. For Rumi, realizing this truth transforms perception — what appears as “other” is, in essence, God’s manifestation.

The Journey of the Soul

• Rumi described human life as a spiritual journey — from the dust of material existence back to divine union. This journey passes through stages of discipline, love, suffering, and illumination. His “Reed Flute” (Nay) in the opening of the Masnavi symbolizes the soul’s longing to return to its source.

The Role of the Spiritual Guide (Murshid)

• In Sufi thought, the guide is the mirror through which the seeker perceives divine light. Shams al-Tabrizi played this role for Rumi, igniting in him a flame of direct experience. Rumi often uses the metaphor of the teacher as a lamp — one that must consume itself to give light to others.

Knowledge Beyond Reason

• While Rumi respected rational scholarship, he taught that true knowledge arises not from intellect alone but from direct illumination (ma‘rifa). Reason can bring one to the door of truth, but only love can open it. This experiential knowledge transforms the knower — uniting intellect, emotion, and spirit.

The Symbolism of Dance and Music

• Rumi’s followers later institutionalized the Sema — the whirling dance of the Mevlevi Order — as a spiritual practice symbolizing the soul’s rotation around the Divine center. For Rumi, music, rhythm, and poetry were not entertainment but vehicles of remembrance (dhikr), harmonizing the body and spirit in divine presence.

4. Influence on His Generation and Beyond

In His Own Time

• Rumi’s transformation from jurist to mystic poet reshaped the spiritual culture of Anatolia. His gatherings became centers of illumination and inspiration, drawing scholars, poets, and seekers from across the Islamic world. His synthesis of scholarly rigor and ecstatic devotion gave Sufism a new depth and emotional reach.

On Later Generations

• Rumi’s influence extended far beyond his lifetime. His followers founded the Mevlevi Order, known as the Whirling Dervishes, which spread his teachings of love and spiritual discipline across the Muslim world. His Masnavi became known as the “Persian Qur’an” for its profound spiritual guidance.

• In the modern era, Rumi’s universal message of love, unity, and inner transformation has reached audiences across linguistic and religious boundaries. He has become one of the most widely read poets in the world, with his verses translated into dozens of languages.

5. Major Works

• Masnavi-ye Ma‘navi (The Spiritual Masnavi) – A monumental six-volume poetic masterpiece exploring divine love, ethics, and the soul’s journey toward God.

• Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi (The Collected Poems of Shams of Tabriz) – A passionate collection of lyrical poetry dedicated to his spiritual companion Shams.

• Fihi ma Fihi (It Is What It Is) – A prose work containing Rumi’s discourses on spirituality, love, and metaphysics.