From TheIsmaili.Org
Author: Salima Naikbeen
This year marks the 800th birthday of Mawlana Jalaluddin Mohammad al-Balkhi al-Rumi, one of Islamic civilisation?s greatest spiritual masters and mystic poets (and a best-selling poet in the United States). Mawlana Rumi (1207-1273) was born in Balkh which is today located in Afghanistan. To honour his vast contributions, celebrations are being held around the world. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) declared 2007 as the “International Rumi Year” Upon the designation by UNESCO, the three countries that Rumi had lived in during his lifetime: Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan are holding special programmes commemorating the man and his philosophy.
On 16 April 2007, in Afghanistan at Nakhustin Jamatkhana in Kabul, the Ismaili Volunteer Corps. and other young members of the Jamat organized an auspicious ceremony to commemorate Rumi?s contribution to Islamic spirituality.
During the ceremony, Qur’anic verses, and a Qasida composed by Mawlana Rumi were recited. Young volunteers also recounted Mawlana Rumi’s life and achievements. A poetry exposition saw members of the Jamat role-play poems from the Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, an epic poem named in honour of Shams Tabrizi – a figure who greatly influenced Mawlana Rumi?s thoughts and beliefs. The narrations included an explanation of the love and devotion he held for Tabrizi and the sadness Rumi felt when they were separated.
The programme concluded with a look at Mawlana Rumi’s writings and poetry which include six books of the Masnavi (spiritual couplets) and the Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi.
Shair Baz Hakemy, President of the Ismaili Council for Afghanistan spoke about Mawlana Rumi’s journey, noting that Rumi was searching for the meaning of life and that the purpose of his poetry was to get in touch with the divine spirit that dwells within all of us. The message in Rumi?s poetry is love and unity – a message for all of humanity.
The ceremony was attended by 500 members of the Jamat and included members of the National and local Councils, Jamati members, poets, and scholars.
Ismailimail 
The beloved is nearer then your juglar vein.
O you who’ve gone on pilgrimage –
where are you, where, oh where?
Here, here is the Beloved!
Oh come now, come, oh come!
Your friend, he is your neighbor,
he is next to your wall –
You, erring in the desert –
what air of love is this?
If you’d see the Beloved’s
form without any form –
You are the house, the master,
You are the Kaaba, you! . . .
Where is a bunch of roses,
if you would be this garden?
Where, one soul’s pearly essence
when you’re the Sea of God?
That’s true – and yet your troubles
may turn to treasures rich –
How sad that you yourself veil
the treasure that is yours!
Tranlated from Look! This is Love – Poems of Rumi, translated by Annemarie Schimmel
LikeLike
Allah
God lies within….
I tried to find Him on the Christian cross, but He was not there;
I went to the Temple of the Hindus and to the old pagodas,
but I could not find a trace of Him anywhere.
I searched on the mountains and in the valleys
but neither in the heights nor in the depths was I able to find Him.
I went to the Ka’bah in Mecca, but He was not there either.
I questioned the scholars and philosophers but He was beyond their understanding.
I then looked into my heart and it was there where He dwelled that I saw Him; He was nowhere else to be found.”
LikeLike
If the lust to study Sufism especially other then Rumi its just because the appeal,Rumi wants to deliever. Similarly, the West having enormus material gains and wealth needs Rumi to fill the spiritual vacuum. Rumi is the natural choice to strike with the spiritual couplets. The Mathnavi and Divan is filled with love and ecstacy;breaks the shakles of materialistic tendency,the world and the West in particular is facing. Again the Ismailis would proud the success of Rumi; and behid the Rumi was Shams Tabrizi-wanderer and davout Ismaili; the architect behid Rumi, who transformed him from a theologian to real Sufi. We always pay homage to Rumi for his priceless services to sufism and Islam.
The message of Rumi, love,peace,tranquality and brotherhood is the best way to show the real face of Islam in the West.
LikeLike
Between the eyes
Aimed at a glance
The goal of all Souls
Pierces Love’s vision
~SamWell~
LikeLike
Love’s steady intent
Caught in a glance
Tears the Friend’s eyes
From distance and time
~SamWell~
LikeLike