Jala ad- din Muhammad Rumi Balkhi was born in 1207 in Balkh, Afghanistan. After the Mongol invasion of Afghanistan, he migrated to Konia, Turkey, known as Rumi. In 2008, he became the most-read poet in the world. UNESCO dedicated 2007 As Rumi year.
At an early age, Rumi was a devoted Muslim and memorized Quran. As he said, “I am the servant of the Quran as long as I have life.”
Rumi followed his father, Veled Bahaeddin, and became a professor of theology and practiced law.
But after he met Shamis, he became more of a spiritual man than a religious. His poetry reminds you of the divine power inside our hearts.
“Our greatest strength lies in the gentleness and tenderness of our heart.”
Rumi believed in man’s divinity. As most often, he referred to the words of the Quran to his students.
“I shaped human and breathed my spirit into the man at his first breath. “
Or the “Kingdome within in Bible.”
All of Rumi’s poetry speaks about divinity within and connecting with the divine power that exists inside us. Rumi’s first poem in his epic book Masnavi is about this separation of man from his divine energy within. Rumi believed that wisdom and happiness are accessible when we reach and connect with the divine power inside us.
“I looked in temples, churches, and mosques. But I found the Divine within my heart.”
Without understanding man’s divinity within, we can not give a true meaning to Rumi’s poetry.
“Do not feel lonely; the entire universe is inside you.”
The translation of Rumi’s poetry doesn’t convey the essence of Rumi’s words. However, it still gives you a fragrance of his mystical expression. The intricate symbolism of Rumi in his poetry can not be communicated in translation. Rumi’s symbolism is a heart and soul language beyond senses.
It heals you by removing malice, jealousy, resentment, and hate and fills you with love, joy, compassion, and grace.