RUMI as Prophet of Love. Rumi belongs to a tradition of spiritually and mystically vibrant variety of Islam, which adamantly insisted that there is a path to God, that path is radical love, a love that will burn inside you everything other than God. Rumi says, “We are standing knee deep in water and are dying of thirst. We run around spiritually hungry wondering where to find God. That is the reason our prayers are left unanswered. We are like that fish in water to whom water is invisible. “Have you ever realized how thoroughly immersed we are in God’s presence, in divine Rahma and what would happen if we are taken out of it even for a second.
Love within the Islamic context is nothing except the very being of God, a cosmic current of love and mercy that unleashes itself out of divine and forces this realm of existence and every one of us to come into being. “Love is the cause of creation; an ocean that is God, is from God and is flowing back to God.” That is why Muslims say, “Ina Lilah he wainaelaheerajaoon. “We are from God, of God and every breath, we take we are returning back to God.”
He says this relationship between God and humanity is that of lover and beloved and we can achieve union with our beloved. This is the secret of Rumi’s path. The nature of existence is love, the nature of Creator is love and you can become not only one with God, but also His creation bonded together in love. “One look, one glance and you will fall in love with that Infinite beauty and what is the solution, another glance, another look and then you burn more.” This relationship is like a fire, which consumes and burns you.” Rumi says, “I was raw, than I was cooked than I was on fire.” Hesays, “The people of the world are like three butterflies in front of a candle flame. The first one went closer and said, “I know about love.” The second one touched the flame lightly and said, “I know love fire can burn.” The third one threw himself in the heart of the flame and was consumed. He alone knows what true love is.”
Rumi says, “Love is the astrolabe of the mysteries of God. The ascension of our Holy Prophet (PBUH) to heaven is a supreme example of it. It was love, which took our Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the presence of the divine, beyond the threshold of even the angel Gabriel. Quran says, “Sa Nurehimbaayatena, filafaq, wafeanfasahum, hatayatabayana la hum, inulhaq.” “We (God) will show them our signs in three places, in scriptures, in Afaq (Nature/further horizons in the natural cosmos) and thirdly inside our own souls.”
One can see Allah in Scriptures, one can see Him in Nature, but to see Him inside your own heart is the grandest mystery of all. Rumi says, “Man arafanafsahuarfa Rabbahu.“ ‘He who knows his own soul, knows God.’ This is the secret, which a great mystical poet found when he said, “There is a self in me, within myself.” The essence of Islamic mysticism is to know this unknown inner self. Those who reached it are tongue tied, because there are no words to describe it. Rumi went to Damascus and rubbed shoulders with the greatest mystics and scholars of his time, and finally when the inner fire lit up, it burnt everything he knew as Jallal-ud-din.
Maulana says, “Love is such a strong force that that it burns all creatures and their physical relations other than God.” He says, ‘The greatest secret is the heart of humanity, the same heart, when God’s trust was offered to the mountains and to the heavens, they all refused, but the humans took it on.’ God says, “I cannot fit into heavens and earth, but the heart of my loving servant suffices me.” “Last night I became love crazed; Love saw me and said, “I am here. Don’t shout, say nothing.” “Love I am afraid of something else.” Love said, “There is nothing else, say nothing. I will whisper great secrets in your ears, just nod yes, say nothing.” “What a beauty are You, an angel or human.”
“Love said, not an angel, not a human say nothing.” I said, “I will lose my mind if you don’t tell me. Love said, “Then lose your mind and stay that way, say nothing.” I said, “My heart isn’t what you are describing God.” Love said, “Yes my child, but hush, say nothing.”
In Masanwi Rumi says, “O God, I have discovered love, how marvellous, how good, how beautiful it is… I offer my salutations to the stars and moon. I offer my salutations to the spirit of passion that aroused and excited this universe.” At another point, Rumi addresses it so beautifully as ‘You.’ “Should everything pass away, it couldn’t happen without You. This heart of mine bears Your imprint. It has nowhere else to turn. The eye of intellect is drunk with You. The wheeling galaxy is humble before You.
You, my grape wine and my intoxication, my rose garden and my springtime, My sleep and repose, nothing happens without you.” You have disturbed my sleep. You have effaced my personality. You have broken every attachment. Nothing happens without you.” “Were something to happen without You. The world will be overturned. The Garden of Eden would turn to hell. Nothing happens without you. “ At another place Rumi says, “I was once like you, enlightened, rational, sober, clever. Now I am thin, crazed, mad with misery. Watch out.” —To continue
—The writer is author of various books based in Rawalpindi.
