The Universal Essence Of Jalaluddin Rumi's Poetry

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 30 September 2025 " To understand Rumi is to understand love in its myriad facets." Professor Reynold A Nicholson, Professor of Persian at Cambridge who also taught and mentored Dr Muhammad Iqbal The great Persian mystic and poet Jalaluddin Rumi needs no elaborate introduction as the very name is enough to evoke a deep sense of respect and reverence. Rumi's influence extends far beyond the realm of poetry. His teachings have had a profound impact on various aspects of contemporary culture, including music, literature, and spirituality. His timeless wisdom continues to resonate with people from all walks of life, crossing religious, cultural, and linguistic boundaries. Rumi's popularity in the Western world has surged in recent decades, with his works translated into multiple languages and his poetry widely celebrated. His profound messages of love, unity, and self-discovery have made him one of the most widely read and revered poets in the world. Rumi's legacy as a poet and mystic continues to inspire and guide seekers of truth and lovers of beauty around the globe. His writings serve as a bridge between different faiths and cultures, emphasizing the universal message of love and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. Rumi's words invite readers to embark on a transformative journey, where love and divine union are the ultimate destinations. En passant, Rumi was born in Balkh in Northern Afghanistan on September 30, 1207 and shuffled off this mortal coil on December 17, 1273 in Konya (Turkey). He's also known as Rumi Balkhi. Many of his sublime thoughts transport us to the realms of love, beauty, enlightenment and introspection. For example, this one is so ennobling: " A sufi's book is not composed of ink and the alphabet. A scholar loves, and lives on, the marks of a pen. A Sufi loves footprints! " The Essential Rumi , Chapter 12, pages 246-267 Rumi contrasts the intellectual approach to spirituality with the experiential path taken by Sufis. While scholars rely on written knowledge, Sufis derive wisdom from lived experiences and the traces left by those who walked the spiritual path before them. This reflects a belief in the transformative power of direct experience over mere study. This also shows humility and no burning desire to flaunt one's name and fame. Rumi didn't write his poetry while living in an ivory tower. His poetry was the poetry of self-experiences which was not based on vicarious truths. Rumi's whole philosophy is the philosophy of self-effacement. We all have encumbered the earth, thanks to our wretched existence. In a brief life, man leaves no stone unturned, to leave a mark behind; a legacy for posterity. There's always a burning desire in every individual to make his presence felt. While the desire to be remembered is innate in every individual, the wish to efface oneself from the big slate of the world is also there, albeit in very few individuals. Only the fully evolved and fragrantly as well as flagrantly enlightened human beings don't wish to live like liabilities to earth and others. And there's no element of self-pity in it. If you pause for a moment and look at the world dispassionately, you'll find that everyone's running. There's so much chaos, so much commotion. It makes one wonder, why is this world like a big bedlam with boisterous inmates? We're all too involved in this mundane world to think that each one of us is destined to fade into the endless vacuum, the unfathomable cosmos, without a trace. This one is so liberating and latitudinarian: I go into the Muslim mosque and the Jewish synagogue and the Christian church and I see one altar. The Essential Rumi , Chapter 12, pages 246-267 This quote exemplifies Rumi's deep understanding of unity in diversity. Despite the differences in beliefs and practices, Rumi sees the underlying essence of spirituality that connects all faiths. He suggests that love and compassion should transcend religious boundaries, promoting a vision of inclusiveness that is particularly vital in today's divided world. He further explains this nobility of heart and mind through this gem of a thought: One sun image of the lines of transmission is a great branching rosebush that grows elegantly on many levels and within several worlds at once. This imagery illustrates the interconnectedness of spiritual teachings and the growth of wisdom through various traditions. Just as a rosebush branches out, so too does knowledge, offering different perspectives and insights. It evokes the idea that spiritual understanding can flourish through embracing diversity and appreciating multiple paths. We need to imbibe the Universal Spirit of Rumi and assimilate that into the collective consciousness of humanity. We've been sparring over all petty things and differences without realising the power of love. He says, " Gamble everything for love, if you're a true human being. If not, leave this gathering." This emphasizes the transformative nature of love and the necessity of commitment and courage in seeking true connection. Rumi advocates for risking everything in pursuit of love, suggesting that half-hearted attempts will yield shallow results. It serves as a reminder that authentic love requires boldness and sincerity. We all want this bold and intrepid love to connect with each other and unite in a single thread and a solitary breath, for your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it. So, let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love. 'The glue of love is the strongest glue' (Rumi). It's the universal Fevicol and the strongest adhesive that binds humans of all hues and shades together. Much before Rumi, Roman poet Virgil (first-century BCE) also said the same in his 10th Eclogue, Amor Vincit Omnia (Love conquers all). In this age of extreme bigotry and belligerence, Rumi opens all hearts that have been closed by religious narrowness for ages. In short, Rumi's enlightening philosophy is emancipating and liberating; never confining. To Rumi, confinement was a coffin of love. Are we ready to imbibe and assimilate the universality of Rumi in the singularity of our one-track vision and mission? ------ Rumi's birth anniversary falls on September 30. A shorter version appeared online in TOI, September 30. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/universal-essence-jalaluddin-rumi-poetry/d/137043 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism