Rumi’s Legacy in the Modern World: The Timeless Resonance of a 13th-Century Poet

By Sabat Khan, New Age Islam 30 July 2024 Rumi's Teachings Promote Introspection and Inclusivity, Making His Poetry A Vital Resource For Spiritual Seekers And Practices Today Main Points: 1. Rumi's encounter with Shams of Tabriz shifted his focus from academic scholarship to a passionate exploration of Sufism and divine love. 2. Rumi's writings explore love, longing, and the connection to the divine, resonating with readers from diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds. 3. Rumi emphasizes that personal suffering can lead to spiritual enlightenment, suggesting that challenges are growth opportunities. 4. Rumi’s profound insights continue to inspire contemporary poets and writers, enriching the field of spiritual poetry and modern literature. ------ Rumi's Journey to Divine Love: A Path of Devotion “A candle is made to become entirely flame, in that annihilating moment it has no shadow.” According to legend, the renowned scholar, Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi, was giving a lecture when an older, dishevelled man approached and asked him the meaning of his academic books. Unbeknownst to Rumi at the time, this person and this question would alter the course of his life. Rumi angrily yelled, "They are something that you don't understand," in response to the interruption. The books suddenly caught fire, and the man turned to face the shocked Rumi, saying, "You couldn't possibly understand." Shams of Tabriz, the enchanting Sufi mystic who would alter Rumi's prospects, becomes mysterious. Rumi, one of history's most famous poets and mystical philosophers, was greatly influenced by Shams' teachings and went on to have a long cultural influence on Turkey and the Persian-speaking world. Rumi was born in 1207 near the Afghan city of Balkh, and as a child emigrated to Anatolia, where his father, a preacher and mystic, hoped to secure a more prestigious position. By the time of Sham’s arrival, in Konya, Rumi was a highly regarded scholar in Islamic law. He had been introduced to Sufism, the Islamic mystical system that centres on feeling God's love but had not exhibited much interest in it until he met Shams in his late thirties. Rumi had moved away from the studies of law and religion in academia. Instead, he perceived them as lights illuminating the path to his ultimate objective. The feeling of divine love leads to his soul's reunion with God. He wrote of this tension in his native Persian, “Love resides not in learning, not in knowledge, not in pages and books. Wherever the debates of men may lead, that is not the lover’s path”. Although Sufism had been a part of Islamic worship for generations, traditional religious authorities despised the rituals of some Sufis, such as their ecstatic dancing and poetry writing. Many of Rumi's previous supporters disliked him as he brought more and more Sufism into his life under the influence of Shams. When Shams suddenly disappeared, suspicion arose that he had been murdered. Rumi expressed his devastation through poetry: “He bathed us like a candle in his light; in thin air vanished, left us”. Rumi did not leave Sufism; instead, he grew even more committed to it, taking part in ritualized dancing and spreading the religion of love via lectures, poetry, and prose. Rumi continued to spread his teachings despite Shams’ untimely demise, viewing himself as the moon reflecting Shams' sun. He wrote the "Divan-i-Shams," a large collection of lyrical poetry that contained many of the proverbs for which he is now renowned, while in his mystical states. The piece conveys a deep sense of love and longing for the heavenly creator as well as for his mentor who has since disappeared. The poetry of Rumi developed with time. He viewed himself as a lighthouse of his own, no longer a reflection of Shams. Rumi wrote "Masnavi" in his early fifties, which alternates between euphoric declarations of divine love and poetry that helps others find it on their own. The poems are multi-layered and intricate, drawing inspiration from earlier Sufi poetry and writing as well as concepts, tales, and quotations from Arabic and Persian literature, as well as Islamic sacred scriptures. For Rumi experiencing love meant opening his heart to all of God’s creation - looking at everything and everyone like Majnun gazing upon Layla. In this way, he saw romantic love as an expression- on a smaller scale- of divine love. Following Rumi’s death, the Mevlevi Sufi order was established around his teachings and still exists in Turkey today. Before Persian poetry was brought to the West in the 19th century, his poems and other writings were copied and distributed throughout the Islamic world. His writings have been read aloud, translated, and reinterpreted for decades, winning followers from all over the world. The Universal appeal of Rumi’s Poetry In an environment where noise becomes chaotic, one is unable to find solace, in that situation, Rumi’s poetry becomes the beacon of their lives. Rumi's poetry illustrates the universal human experience. His writings on love, longing, and the pursuit of heavenly connection speak to readers of many faiths and cultures. The central theme of Rumi's writings is a careful analysis of the human soul and its relationship to the divine. His poetry encourages reflection and a greater knowledge of one's inner self by taking readers on a spiritual journey. Some lines of his poetry express the power of pain and through enduring the pain one can achieve their desired path: “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” This line suggests that our greatest challenges and pains often become the points of our greatest growth and enlightenment. It's through our struggles and suffering that we gain insight and strength. Moreover, oftentimes Rumi creates a place where people can think of themselves by understanding their worth and hold their optimist selves. By saying this, Rumi expresses the hope within each of us: “Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes around in another form.” However, this line speaks to the transformative nature of loss. Even the things we lose usually come back to us in a new, perhaps even better, shape. Many seek solace and meaning in Rumi's timeless wisdom in today’s technologically advanced, fast-paced world. His poetry, which is widely shared on social media, serves as a daily reminder of the enduring power of love and the interconnectedness of all living things, which encourages and inspires us. Rumi is one of the best-selling poets in the US, Europe and other countries thanks to his ability to transcend cultural divides and foster a feeling of humanity. Rumi’s Influence on Modern Literature The works of many modern poets and writers, who find inspiration in Rumi's profound insights and lyrical beauty, demonstrate Rumi's effect on modern writing. His examination of love, grief, and the divine among other topics encourages poets to explore the human condition in greater detail. Many modern authors have adopted Rumi's technique of fusing the sacred and the profane to produce works that appeal to the heart and the soul. His influence can be observed in the expanding field of spiritual poetry, as contemporary poets attempt to express the same inner serenity and transcendence that Rumi did in his poetry. Elif Shafak’s novel “The Forty Rules of Love” is based on Rumi and Shams Tabrizi. Elif has beautifully woven the story that highlights the two parallel stories and life journeys. However, Elif Shafak is a Turkish author; her books captured themes like Feminism, Identity, and Multiculturalism. Rumi’s Spiritual Impact Rumi's influence on modern spirituality is arguably the most important part of his legacy in the modern world. Rumi's accepting and compassionate attitude to spirituality is a welcome change of pace in a time when conventional religious rituals are frequently called into question. Rumi's teachings place a strong emphasis on the value of introspection, self-awareness, and the quest for a close relationship with God. Those who are looking for a more inclusive and compassionate spiritual path find great resonance in his idea of love as a transformative power. This has resulted in a renewed interest in the contemplative and mystical practices of many different spiritual traditions, as well as in Sufism, the mystical division of Islam to which Rumi belonged. Rumi's poetry is frequently used by spiritual instructors and practitioners to highlight the transformational power of love and the path to spiritual enlightenment. Rumi's poetry is often featured in meditation groups, yoga courses, and mindfulness retreats, providing a space for people to connect with his timeless wisdom and find serenity amid contemporary turbulence. ------- Sabat Khan is a media professional with a Bachelor's degree in Mass Media Hindi and a Master's degree in Media Governance from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/rumi-modern-world-timeless-resonance-13th-century-poet/d/132822 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism