Maulana Rumi, who spent a major part of his life in Turkey, was of Persian origin. Born in Balkh, Khorasan (now in Afghanistan) in 1207 CE, he was the son of Sheikh Bahauddin, an eminent saint and a contemporary of Imam Fakhruddin Razi. Maulana Rumi travelled far and wide in the Middle East in search of knowledge, acquiring education and enlightenment from various well-known scholars of the time. However, it was his long and cherished association with Hazrat Shamsuddin of Tabriz which finally led to the establishment of the distinct Maulvi Order.
The Maulana`s Mathnavi exceeds 27,000 verses. It is a depiction of the Holy Quran itself in an understandable pattern of poetic explanation. The different narrations have been made comprehensible to the common man. In the words of Maulana Jami, `Rumi was not a prophet but he had a book.`
He dwelt upon the issue of mysticism from various dimensions nad delineated the primary aspects that are an essential part of a Sufi`s traits. He dealt with the purity of zest of ascent to the pedestal of divinity and to undergo perpetual mental and physical struggle along the prescribed avenues. This demands the subjugation of the self in affectionate serfdom to the Almighty. Whoever saves his vision from wordly aberration can treasure the cherished vistas of mysticism.
Maulana further stressed that in terms of exposed public life, a Sufi is bound to impose more restrictions on himself than a common being. Furthermore, in the gradual ascent, the disclosure of the universal unknown must not be thought of as the zenith of mystical experience nor should one try and gain credit for it as such.
Within this framework, he deliberately avoided addressing those primary confusions that have webbed the evolutionary context of philosophical debates. The creation of the universe, resemblance of creations to the creator and several eternal question marks all add to these debates. Schisms and a chaotic jumble of overlapping ideas have not helped yield any consensus on such issues. However, mystics should be placed apart from the category of those individuals who have constructed their own rhetoric, since their approach is based on perceptual experience and not on a set of reasons.
The Maulana has persisted in a system of explanation that involves common examples enriched by fables and tales to convey his message. He believed that a pattern of depiction should be delivered in such a way that a human being could arrive at the right conclusion. The Mathnavi does not use fashionable terminology although it deals with pertinent issues.
An eminent aspect of his teachings is his affirmation of the virtue of expression, besides the merits of silence. The basic idiom is that `love demands expression`. Whether one looks at the verses of Hassan bin Sabit in praise of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) or at the cries of Bilal Habshi at the cruelty meted out to him, love finds its way in the garb of words. Secondly, it is God`s own injunction to speak while performing prophetic duties or disclosing the truth. In this respect the reaction of the masses is not considered important.
The ecstasy of a Sufi compels him to speak. He does not openly express feelings or experiences – as he is virtually unable to do so – but symbolises the events through clueful utterances.
Many critics are of the opinion that speech is almost impossible during the state of bewilderment in which a mystic is mostly engulfed. Maulana`s rationale highlights the difference between various phases. A mystic may prefer silence over issues that are futile for common people and thereafter reveal those which may lead to betterment in a physical sense or in understanding.
Maulana Rumi`s thought has found its way in the works of all the key oriental philosophers of later ages. His thought has gained importance in the subcontinent especially in the evergreen verses of Iqbal. Iqbal`s works including Asrar-i-Khudi and Payam-i-Mashriq frequently carry the message of the Maulana depicting its various aspects.
Create alchemy from a handful of dust
Kiss the threshold of a perfect man
Light your candle like Rumi and burn Rum with the fire of Tabriz
(from Asrar-i-Khudi)
Though the `song bird of mysticism` left this world for eternal peace in 1273, his Maulvi order has continued to flourish after him. His tomb in the central region of Turkey has remained a focus of attention for followers and non-followers alike.
0 Komentar