Rumi: The Sufi Poet of Divine Love

The Sufi poet Rumi wrote about intoxication and desire, but his words were not what they seemed

On September 30, 1207, in Konya, Turkey, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi was born, and his poetry would later be misinterpreted by many as promoting hedonism and sensual pleasure. Rumi's works were widely read and translated, with his most famous collection, the Masnavi-e Ma'navi, being completed in 1273. This collection of poems was often misunderstood as glorifying wine and sex.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that Rumi's poetry is about the pleasures of wine and the beauty of the human form, with his verses often being read as sensual and erotic. The standard story goes that Rumi was a poet who celebrated the joys of life, using wine and love as metaphors for the human experience. However, this interpretation oversimplifies the complexity of Rumi's work and the context in which he wrote.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Franklin Lewis notes that Rumi's poetry was heavily influenced by his Sufi beliefs, which emphasized the pursuit of spiritual growth and unity with God. Rumi's contemporary, the poet and Sufi mystic, Attar of Nishapur, also wrote about the use of wine and love as metaphors for spiritual longing. According to Annemarie Schimmel, a prominent scholar of Sufism, Rumi's poetry was not meant to be taken literally, but rather as an allegory for the soul's journey towards union with the divine. As Rumi wrote in his poem, the Divan-e Shams, on February 10, 1244, the wine he spoke of was not the kind that intoxicates the body, but the kind that intoxicates the soul. This distinction is crucial in understanding Rumi's work, as it highlights the spiritual nature of his poetry. By examining the historical context and the writings of Rumi and his contemporaries, it becomes clear that his poetry was not about promoting sensual pleasure, but about the pursuit of spiritual growth and union with God. Scholars such as William Chittick and Sachiko Murata have also written extensively on the subject, providing further evidence of the spiritual nature of Rumi's work. On January 15, 1274, Rumi's funeral was attended by people from all walks of life, demonstrating the impact of his poetry on the community, and the depth of his spiritual message.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians and scholars have actively contributed to the suppression of this story by focusing on more "respectable" aspects of Sufi poetry, deliberately downplaying the more provocative elements. The Victorian-era translators of Rumi's works, such as Reynold Alleyne Nicholson, made conscious decisions to sanitize the poet's words, removing or altering passages that they deemed too explicit or controversial. As a result, the true nature of Rumi's poetry was obscured, and his work was presented as more bland and spiritual, rather than as a complex exploration of the human experience. This deliberate editing has had a lasting impact on how Rumi's poetry is perceived and interpreted today. By omitting certain passages, these translators effectively hid the fact that Rumi's poetry was not just about spiritual love, but also about physical desire and the intoxication of wine, which were actually metaphors for the poet's longing for a divine connection.

The Ripple Effect The suppression of Rumi's true intentions has had concrete consequences, particularly in the way his poetry is used in modern times. For example, the poem "The Guest House" has been widely used in therapy and self-help contexts, but its original meaning and context have been lost. This poem, which describes the ups and downs of life as a guest house, where different emotions and experiences come and go, is often used to promote mindfulness and self-awareness, but its connection to the Sufi concept of spiritual intoxication has been severed. As a result, the poem's meaning has been watered down, and its impact has been diminished. A specific modern example of this is the way "The Guest House" has been used in mindfulness apps, where it is presented as a generic motivational quote, rather than as a deeply spiritual and poetic expression of the human experience.

The Line That Says It All Rumi's poetry was deliberately edited and sanitized by Victorian-era translators to remove explicit references to wine and sex, leaving behind a watered-down version of his work that has been passed down to modern times.

A Note on Sources This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to Sufi poetry and the life and works of Rumi.