Who is Rumi in Islamic mysticism?
The best-known mystic of Islam is Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207-1273), a famous poet who lived in what is present-day Turkey. Rumi wrote numerous poems, many about “the Religion of Love.” He founded or enhanced the esctatic dancing of the Mevlevi Sufi order, known in the West as the Whirling Dervishes. Showing love to other people was paramount for Rumi. He wrote, “My religion is to live through Love – life through this spirit and body is my shame.” He also wrote, “The intellect does not know and is bewildered by the Religion of Love – even if it should be aware of all religions.” He further wrote, ” If Love’s pulse does not beat within a man, let him be Plato, he is but an ass. If a head is not full of love, that head is behind the tail.” In other words, knowledge alone is not enough in life. A person must also put his knowledge – especially about religion – into practice by demonstrating care for other people. Rumi’s mystical poetry also uses the language of love to describe a person’s rel
