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1225: Birth of his first son, ‘Alā al-Dīn Chalabi

1226: Birth of his second son, Sultan Walad, who would later become an important transmitter of Rumi’s teachings.

1228: Moved to Konya (then part of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum) after being invited by Sultan ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn Kayqubād I.

• Bahāʾ al-Dīn Walad (Rumi's father) began teaching at a local religious school (madrasa).

• Rumi began deeper formal teaching alongside his father.

1231: After Bahāʾ al-Dīn's death, Rumi continued his education under Burhān al-Dīn Muhaqqiq, a former disciple of his father.

1232-1236: Rumi studied in Aleppo and Damascus, focusing on religious law and the religious sciences.

1237: Returned to Konya.

• Took over his father's position as a madrasa teacher and mufti (legal authority).

• Gained recognition as a respected scholar.

1238-1242: Attracted a growing group of students while practicing rigorous Sufi exercises, gradually transforming from a legal scholar into a spiritual guide.

1242: Burhān al-Dīn passed away, leaving Rumi to mature as both a teacher and spiritual guide.

1243: Rumi entered a period of spiritual solitude and reflection while leading a growing community of students.

Jude Aljundi (91801)

The Encounter:

• On the 15th of November 1244, Rumi meets Shams of Tabriz in konya.

• Shams was a wandering mystic seeking a spiritual equal.

• Their conversation lasted 40 days in seclusion.

• Known as the “meeting of two seas” – a spiritual turning point.

Rumi’s Transformation:

• Rumi shifts from scholar to mystic under Shams’ influence.

• He embraces poetry, music, and Sama (whirling).

• His followers feel abandoned and grow suspicious of Shams.

First Disappearance - March 1246:

• Shams suddenly disappears in March 1246.

• Claims that Rumi’s followers didn’t want him around anymore.

• Rumi is heartbroken and enters a period of deep mourning.

Reunion - April 1247:

• Rumi sends his son Sultan Walad to Damascus to bring shams back.

• Shams returns to Konya on April 1247.

• Tension remains on the surface due to the circumstances.

Final Disappearnce - Late 1247:

• Shams vanishes forever in 1247.

• Many believe he was murdered by people close to Rumi.

• Rumi channels his grief into writing poetry about Shams.

• Start of Rumi’s full emergence as a poet.

- Sara Alghfeli g00095352

Written after the disappearance of Shams in 1247

• Over 40,000 verses composed in Persian

• Not a formal structure --> spontaneous, emotional, ecstatic

• Reflects Rumi’s personal transformation and spiritual rebirth

💔 Grief Turned into Poetry

Written during Rumi’s deep mourning after losing Shams

• Shams became a symbol of the divine, not just a human figure

• Rumi used poetry to turn pain into mystical insight

• The Diwan became his spiritual response to loss

✨ Style and Voice

Uses the ghazal form (traditional love poetry), but spiritually transformed

• Emotional, raw, and often breaks traditional meter

• Filled with paradox, metaphor, and symbolism

• Frequently ends poems with the name “Shams of Tabriz” as a spiritual invocation

🔥 Key Themes in the Diwan

• Longing and separation (hijr): grief for the Beloved

• Union and ego-annihilation (fana’): dissolving in divine love

• Divine intoxication: wine/drunkenness as symbols of ecstasy

• Mystical love: love that purifies and reveals deeper truth

🌿 Spiritual Impact and Legacy

The Divan is both a love letter and a spiritual manual

• Does not teach logically --> teaches through emotional experience

• Offers healing and awakening to readers across time and cultures

• A lasting testament to the transformative power of grief and love

🟢 Salah al-Din Zarkub

• A goldsmith and close follower of Rumi after Shams' disappearance

• Known for his humility and deep spiritual insight

• Played a key role in Rumi’s emotional recovery

🟢 Husam al-Din Chalabi

• Rumi’s companion and student

• Encouraged Rumi to write the Mathnawi

• Acted as Rumi’s scribe and inspiration during the later years

The Mathnawi

– The Mathnawi was written in Persian over a span of about 15 years.

– It’s made up of six volumes and over 25,000 rhyming couplets.

– It blends poetry, storytelling, theology, and moral lessons.

– Major themes include the ego, divine love, unity, spiritual discipline, and inner transformation.

– It was written at the request of Husam al-Din, who served as Rumi’s scribe and inspiration.

Quote:

“You were born with wings. Why prefer to crawl through life?”

Fana’, Ishq, and Sohbet

🟣 Fana’ – The annihilation of the ego.

🟣 Ishq – Divine love.

🟣 Sohbet – Spiritual companionship.

Importance

1️⃣ It marks his shift from personal pain to spiritual leadership.

2️⃣ It’s when he creates the Mathnawi, a guide for seekers around the world.

3️⃣ And it introduces the key ideas of fana’, ishq, and sohbet, which together describe the path of divine love.

Established in the city of Konya, where Rumi lived and taught, the order provided a structure for

disciples to live out his message of devotion, humility, and love.

The name Mevlevi comes from the honorific Mevlana, meaning “our master,

” a title of respect

given to Rumi.

• Early 1300s: Sultan Walad, Rumi’s son, compiles and promotes his father’s teachings. He formally organizes the Mevlevi Sufi Order in Konya, codifying Rumi’s mystical practices into a structured tariqa (Sufi path).
  
  

• The Masnavi is referred to as the “Persian Qur'an” by early followers, due to its perceived spiritual authority.
  
  

• Disciples and dervishes spread Rumi’s poetry and practices from Anatolia into Syria, Iraq, and Persia.
  
  

• The Order establishes its first branches in Kütahya, Afyon, and Istanbul, making Rumi’s teachings central to Ottoman spiritual life.
  
  

"The Seven Assemblies"

• Seven formal sermons delivered in mosques

• Reflects Rumi’s early period as a preacher

• More traditional Islamic tone

2. Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi (c. 1246)

"The Collected Poems of Shams"

• First major poetic collection after Shams' disappearance

• Thousands of lyrical ghazals

• Themes: Divine love, longing, spiritual awakening

• Quote: “I am yours. Don’t give myself back to me.”

3. Fihi Ma Fihi (1240–1270, compiled late 1260s)

"It Is What It Is"

• 71 prose discourses from Rumi’s talks to students

• Explains spiritual ideas in simple, relatable terms

• Quote: “You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?”

4. Mathnawi al-Ma’nawi (1260–1273)

"The Spiritual Couplets"

• Six volumes of rhyming couplets (over 25,000 verses)

• Uses stories and parables to teach spiritual truths

• Considered one of the most influential works in Islamic spirituality

• Quote: “Come, come, whoever you are... ours is not a caravan of despair.”

5. Makatib (Undated)

"The Letters"

• Letters written by Rumi to students, rulers, and loved ones

• Offers personal spiritual advice and insights

• Quote: “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”

1. Divine Love as the Center of Existence

o Rumi teaches that love is the core of creation.

o True love is not just emotional—it's a force that unites the soul with the

Divine.

o Quote: “Love is the bridge between you and everything.”

2. The Inner Journey (Spiritual Awakening)

o Rumi emphasizes turning inward to find truth.

o The real path to God is within the self, through introspection and spiritual

discipline.

o Quote: “You were born with wings. Learn to use them and fly.”

3. Transformation Through Suffering

o Pain and longing are not weaknesses—they are gateways to growth.

o Rumi himself was transformed by the grief of losing Shams.

o Quote: “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

4. Unity of All Religions and Beings

o Rumi saw no division between faiths—he spoke of a universal spirituality.

o His vision transcends religious boundaries.

o Quote: “I belong to no religion. My religion is Love.”

5. Surrender to the Divine Will

o Letting go of ego and accepting the Divine plan is essential in Rumi’s

teachings.

o Surrender brings peace, clarity, and spiritual insight.

o Quote: “Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead, let life live

through you.”

6. Whirling and Poetry as Worship

o Rumi’s practice of whirling wasn’t performance—it was prayer.

o Poetry, music, and dance were all expressions of union with God.

o Quote: “Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?”

Ottoman scholars, such as Ahmedi and Sinan Pasha, reference Rumi in their works, signaling the integration of his ideas into elite intellectual circles.

In Persia, Safavid poets like Saib Tabrizi reflect Rumi’s metaphors and mystical love themes, linking his legacy to Shi’a poetic traditions as well.

dhikr — remembrance of God — performed through motion, music, and inward reflection.

Each gesture in the ceremony has deep meaning:

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The right hand raised to the sky represents receiving divine grace.

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The left hand lowered symbolizes distributing that grace to the world.

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The turning movement reflects both the cosmic rotation of the universe and the soul’s

journey toward spiritual union.

At the center of this ritual is the ney, the reed flute, which Rumi described as the cry of the soul separated from its origin — a symbol of longing and divine homesickness.