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Rumi (Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi)
From Outcyclopedia, the free and queer encyclopedia. Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi or Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi (also known as Mevlana, meaning our guide, or Mowlavi, meaning my guide) (September 30, 1207 - December 17, 1273 CE) was a Persian poet and Sufi mystic, who was born in Balkh (then a city of the greater Khorasan province, Persia at that time, present Tajikistan) and died in Konya (present Turkey, then within the Seljuk Empire's territory). Rumi was a poet, philosopher and mystic of Islam. His doctrine advocates unlimited tolerance, positive reasoning, goodness, charity and awareness through love. To him and his disciples, all religions are more or less true. Looking with the same eye on Muslim, Jew, Buddhist and Christian alike, his peaceful and tolerant teaching has appealed to men and women of all sects and creeds. Rumi's major work is Masnavi-ye Manavi ("Spiritual Couplets"), a six-volume poem regarded by many Sufis as second in importance only to the Koran. Rumi's other major work is the Diwan-i Shams-i Tabriz-i ("The Works of Shams of Tabriz," - named in honor of Rumi's great friend and inspiration, the dervish Shams), comprising some 40,000 verses. Both works are among the most significant in all of Persian literature. It is believed by some that Shams was murdered by disciples of Rumi who were jealous of his relationship with Shams (also spelt Shems). When the Mongols invaded Persia, Rumi relocated to Anatolia within the westernmost territories of the Seljuk Empire. It was here where Rumi spent the last forty-some years of his life and wrote his poems. He died on December 17, 1273. Rumi was laid to rest beside his father, and a splendid shrine was erected over his remains. The Mevlana Mausoleum, with its mosque, dance hall, dervish living quarters, school and tombs of some leaders of the Mevlevi Order continues to this day to draw pilgrims from all parts of the Muslim and non-Muslim world. The Mevlevi, more commonly known in the West as "The Whirling Dervishes" or Mevleviye, are one of the most well-known of the Sufi orders. It was founded in 1273 by Rumi's followers after his death, particularly by his son, Sultan Veled Celebi. Rumi's importance transcends national and ethnic borders. Speakers of the Persian language in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan see him as one of their most significant classical poets and an influence to many poets thrroughout history. He has also had a great influence on Turkish literature throughout the centuries. His poetry forms the basis of much classical Iranian and Afghan music. Contemporary classical interpretations of his poetry are made by Mohammad-Reza Shajarian and Shahram Nazeri, both in Iran, and Ustad Mohammad Hashem Cheshti of Afghanistan. To many modern Westerners, his teachings are one of the best introductions to the philosophy and practice of Sufism. Quote:
Dance, as though no one is watching, External links:
Wikiquote:Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi
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