Rumi’s Position as the Iranians’ Spiritual Heritage
فارسی English 1489 Views |The bazaar of Konia was filled with the sound of anvil and sledge hammer. Jalal la-Din (Rumi) and a group of his disciples were passing, the hubbub of the gold beaters made Rumi to hustle, started Sufi dancing (Sama’), his disciples also danced.
Slah al-Din Zarkub (one of the sellers in bazzar) who had been Rumi’s disciple a long time ago, ordered his apprentices: “continue beating gold until Rumi dances and it does not matter if the gold is destroyed”.
This story happened everyday to Rumi, after visiting “Shams al-Din Muhammad Tabrizi” – a merchant who was Sufi – from the day he entered Konia , Rumi who himself was called “the Lord” because of his great personality, left his studies and followed Shams al-Din, he called him as his own Lord.
Rumi’s heritage for his followers and disciples was the Sufi dance, “Sama” and Sufism.
Although there was no rules in the dance, but it was not just a dance and was ruled by a thought which refrained it from being just a rhythmic movement:
“Moving his hands and arms was a sign of having no attachments to the world, stamping his feet on the ground was a sign of trampling his inner self underfoot”. (Step by step to visiting God, by Abdol Hessin ZarrinKub).
Are the dances of the later generations as mysterious as Rumi’s dance?
Although the answer needs a comprehensive research but it could be understood why jurists blamed Rumi fro his dance and also the dissatisfaction of the present scholars over these kinds of Sufi programs.
The world as the Almighty’s monastery
Sufism and Rumi’s dance were not the only heritage for the future generations. Although Sufism had been existed many years before Rumi, but nowadays those who know themselves as Sufis, attribute their thoughts to Rumi.
According to researches Sufism has achieved greatness from the 11th century up to now and also was circulated around people. From that time there was a stark contrast between the believers of heart and those who believe in intellect. The believers of intellect who were known as philosophers, accused the Sufis of being heretic.
Rumi criticized Sufis; he knew the world as a great monastery where the Sufi in this monastery is God, and he himself is the servant of the monastery.
According to Rumi’s viewpoint, the differences between nations, views and religions are just a veil over a hidden unity.
It was in the middle of 1229, Rumi was at his 67, he was sick, suffering from typhus fever, his son – Soltan Walad – was always with him.
He could not finish the 6th book of Masnavi (Couplet poem).
Rumi memorized the days which he lost “Shams” and searched fro him but could not find him. all people, kings and scholars asked God to cure him of illness. Eventually he died in 1229.
People attended his funeral.
Masnavi as a great textbook
There are many years which the works of Rumi are annotated by Persian and non-Persian Rumilogists. (those who study and research on Rumi)
“The spiritual couplet poems” (Masnavi Ma’navi) was versified in the style of: “Ilahi Nameh” (Book of the Almighty, by Sanaee) and also “The couplet poems” (by Attar).
Not only his work but also his thought was influenced by these great mystic Persian poets.
His other works:
- In it what’s in it (Fih-e ma fih)
- The seven sessions (Mjales-e Sb’eh)
- Quatrains (Robaiyyat)
- The letters (Makatib)
The spiritual couplet poem in the West
The English translation of Masnavi was done by a famous Americal poet “Clement Barks” and over the 250000 copies of this great book were sold in America.
The translator believes that Rumi’s poems include eternal and spiritual concepts and his role in comprehending mystic and spiritual thoughts and the Islamic world, is as the same as Shakespeare’s in comprehending the West.
The worldwide heritage
Rumi is considered as a worldwide heritage, because of his human thoughts.
Every one could have their impression about his poems and also interpret them with their own method.
Turkey tries to prove that Rumi was risen from this country, by holding symposiums, festivals and seminars (the Turkish believe that he is from Turkey); now it is time for Iran to prove Rumi’s origin.
Reference:
Step by step to visiting God (by A. Zarrinkub)
Treatise on Rumi’s account (by Badi’ al-Zaman Foruzanfar)
International publication magazine
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