Question

Take a look at some examples of Rumi’s poetry. write an account of how the poet develops the theme God’s relationship to humanity. Refer to the materials on this topic from the textbook to discuss how does Rumi’s poetry communicates some of the central concerns of Sufism

FIrst

—

This is love: to fly toward a secret sky,

to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment.

First, to let go of live.

In the end, to take a step without feet;

to regard this world as invisible,

and to disregard what appears to be the self.

Heart, I said, what a gift it has been

to enter this circle of lovers,

to see beyond seeing itself,

to reach and feel within the breast.

The Divani Shamsi Tabriz, XIII

Ý

Second

—

Love is reckless; not reason.

Reason seeks a profit.

Love comes on strong,

consuming herself, unabashed.

Yet, in the midst of suffering,

Love proceeds like a millstone,

hard surfaced and straightforward.

Having died of self-interest,

she risks everything and asks for nothing.

Love gambles away every gift God bestows.

Without cause God gave us Being;

without cause, give it back again.

Mathnawi VI, 1967-1974

Answer 1

The poet compares the love of God with the love of human beings.The pot's primary message is that love has no expectation instead love takes pleasure in giving. The poet points out that God created humans from nothing and he provides them without any expectation. So, we should also learn the importance of giving and loving without any expectations. The poet's second point is that love never reasons as reasoning ends up in an expectation for profit and when this thought comes into one's mind the real love will be lost. Finally, the poet says that love do not only enjoy happiness and good things but also stays in times of suffering and conflicts. Sufism is one of the Islamic ideologies that suggests that one should seek divine help and kindness through one's personal experience with God and this experience should be direct without anyone else's interference. Rumi's poems also invite the readers to have direct experience with God and other a aspects of life.