About Molana
Jalal-e-Din Mohammad Molavi Rumi was born in 1207 A.D. at Balkh in the
north-eastern provinces of Persia (present day Afghanistan). His father Baha
al-Din was a renowned religious scholar. Under his patronage, Rumi received his
early education from Syed Burhan-al-Din. When his age was about 18 years, the
family ( after several migrations) finally settled at Qonya and at the age of
25, Rumi was sent to Aleppo (present day Syria) for advanced education and later
to Damascus. Rumi continued with his education till he was 40 years old,
although on his father's death Rumi succeeded him as a professor in the famous
Madrasah at Qonya at the age of about 24 years. He received his mystical
training first at the hands of Syed Burhan al-Din and later he was trained by
Shams-e Tabrizi. He became famous for his mystical insight, his religious
knowledge and as a Persian poet. He used to teach a large number of pupils at
his Madrasah and also founded the famous Molavi Order in Tasawwof (Sufism). He
died in 1273 A.D. at Qonya (present day Turky), which subsequently became a
sacred place for dancing dervishes of the Molavi Order.
His major contribution lies in Islamic philosophy and Tasawwof (Sufism). This
was embodied largely in poetry, especially through his famous Masnavi. This
book, the largest mystical exposition in verse, discusses and offers solutions
to many complicated problems in metaphysics, religion, ethics, mysticism, etc.
Fundamentally, the Masnavi highlights the various hidden aspects of Sufism and
their relationship with the worldly life. For this, Rumi draws on a variety of
subjects and derives numerous examples from everyday life. His main subject is
the relationship between man and God on the one hand, and between man and man,
on the other. He apparently believed in Pantheism and portrayed the various
stages of man's evolution in his journey towards the Ultimate.
Apart from the Masnavi, he also wrote his Divan (collection of poems) and
Fihe-Ma-Fih (a collection of mystical sayings). However, it is the Masnavi
itself that has largely transmitted Rumi's message. Soon after its completion,
other scholars started writing detailed commentaries on it, in order to
interpret its rich propositions on Tasawwof (Sufism), Metaphysics and Ethics.
Several commentaries in different languages have been written since then.
His impact on philosophy, literature, mysticism and culture, has been so deep
throughout Central Asia and most Islamic countries that almost all religious
scholars, mystics, philosophers, sociologists and others have referred to his
verses during all these centuries, since his death. Most difficult
problems in these areas seem to get simplified in the light of his references.
His message seems to have inspired most of the intellectuals in Central Asia and
adjoining areas since his time, and scholars like Iqbal have further developed
Rumi's concepts. The Masnavi became known as the interpretation of the Quran in
the Pahlavi language. He is one of the few intellectuals and mystics whose views
have so profoundly affected the world-view in its higher perspective in large
parts of the Islamic World .
Masnavi (English Translation)
Below is an English translation of Masnavi titled "The Masnavi I Ma'navi"
by Maulana Jalalu-'d-din Muhammad Rumi, Abridged and Translated by E.H. Whinfield, [1898].
Next: The Masnavi Book I
