A tale of two Rumis – of the East and of the West
Al Jazeera
Exactly 750 years after death, Jalaluddin Mohammad Rumi remains a mystery. Was he a Muslim scholar or spiritual pundit?
Jalaluddin Mohammad Rumi’s spiritual poems and perpetual wisdom have transcended time and cultures.
Seven hundred and fifty years after his death, the celebrated Persian thinker remains a best-selling poet in the West, revered as an Islamic dervish in the East, while his sagacious thoughts rule the internet.
When he died on December 17, 1273, aged 66, the streets of Konya, in present-day Turkey, were filled with mourners from multiple creeds and nations, reflective of the cosmopolitan society that lived in 13th century Anatolia – it was a time when the cross-cultural exchange of ideas and arts prospered.
At his funeral, his followers, who also included Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians, each recited from their own scriptures.
This year too, on Sunday, the man posthumously known by his nisbah (a name indicating one’s origins) Rumi, will be honoured by his followers on Sheb-i Arus – meaning wedding night in both Persian and Turkish.
Five healthcare workers killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, Ministry of Public Health says.
Vulnerable nations are seeking $1.3 trillion annually to deal with the damage caused by climate change and to adapt.
The city’s southern suburbs have been hit repeatedly in recent months
New York judge cancels a sentencing hearing previously scheduled for November 26 without setting a new date.
Many Haitian children face the stark choice of joining a gang or suffering from violence, poverty and hunger engulfing them.
Tapped to lead the Justice Department, Bondi is a former Florida attorney general and longtime Trump supporter.
The arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant could lead to countries rethinking arms deals with Israel, experts say
Moscow says the Oreshnik, a nuclear-capable weapon, was used in an attack on Ukraine amid escalating tensions.
Police say a ‘suspected prohibited item’ was discovered in luggage in the facility’s south terminal.
The NGOs want the Netherlands to ban the export and transit of weapons, weapon parts, and dual-use items to Israel.
All the details about the biggest two weeks in chess as a young Indian grandmaster takes on the Chinese world champion.