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Foreword
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On Rumi
Rumi, also called Jelaluddin Balkhi, was born in Afghanistan but later moved to Konya, Turkey. His dad, Bahauddin Walad, was a mystic, and Rumi followed his path, becoming a scholar and teacher. Rumi’s life changed when he met Shams of Tabriz, a wandering dervish, who asked him a deep question about the greatness of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon Him). This meeting led to a strong friendship between Rumi and Shams, filled with intense spiritual talks and exciting experiences.
Rumi and Shams were very close, which upset some people in Rumi’s community. Shams disappeared two times, and the second time, he never came back. It’s likely that he was murdered. Even though Rumi was sad about losing Shams, he found comfort in their spiritual connection, realising they were like one person. Rumi kept writing poetry, first to Shams and later to other friends like Saladin Zarkub and Husam Chelebi. Rumi’s most well-known book, the Mathnawi, was shared with his friend Husam during the final years of Rumi’s life. Rumi passed away in 1273, leaving a lasting impact with his spiritual poems and teachings.
A Note on the Organisation of This Book
This note says that the organisation of a book on Rumi’s poetry differs from that of other books. Rumi’s poems don’t fit into neat categories like short or love poems. Instead, they flow like a river, blending different ideas and emotions. Rumi’s poems aren’t just about one thing; they come from deep inside him, talking about things like love, truth, and feeling connected to Allah (SWT).
The titles of Rumi’s poems might seem strange, but they’re meant to be playful. Rumi didn’t give titles to his poems in Persian. Instead, his collections have straightforward names like "The Works of Shams of Tabriz" or "Spiritual Couplets." The note also talks about how Rumi’s poems were part of his conversations with a group of students, where they explored spiritual ideas through poetry, music, and movement.
The note finishes with a prayer by Rumi, thanking Allah (SWT) for letting us connect with the soul through his poetry. It says that reading Rumi’s poems can make those who feel close to Allah (SWT) happy and comforted, but it might be hard for those who feel distant. The note reminds us that Rumi’s poetry is like a journey for the heart, meant to be felt and experienced rather than just understood.
