Rumi
Zainab Mukhtar
Madiha Shaukat
LITR-252
7March2014
THE DIVINE MAN RELATIONSHIP AS DEFINED BY RUMI
The Divine says in the Quran “God loves them and they love Him.” (5:45). A deeper analysis of Rumi’s poetry unfolds the various relationships that exist between the creator and the creation. From among the many relationships, the most prominent one in Rumi’s poetry is that the Beloved/lover relationship. The God says in the Quran, “Call Me, I will respond to you.” (40:60). God has given the status of Ashraf ul makhlooqat to the humans which means the humans are regarded as the most superior of all species. And the luminous beings (angels) were asked to prostrate in front of Adam, such is the status the Divine has bestowed upon the humans. The human is a Vicegerent (Khalifa) of the Divine. According to Rumi, every human being is created with a basic knowledge with which he/she can develop. This innate knowledge put humanity above angels. The beloved not only rests in the heart of the lover but also makes himself visible for the lover through everything that surrounds the lover and also through the lover himself. God says in the Quran, "And He has subjected for your sake whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, the whole from Him. Verily here in are signs to a people who ponder". (45:13). The lover is able to feel the eternal presence of the beloved in everything and at the same time is able to realize that his own presence is of no value and thus is able to see the signs of God. When we further analyze Rumi’s poetry, we realize that Rumi also characterizes this Divine/human relationship as that of a Teacher and a student, The Guide and the follower, The Light and the seeker. Chittick elaborates that all creatures are making God manifest although some are aware while others heedless, according to Rumi God is a hidden treasure and created man to be known. And at several instances in Quran, Allah makes the creation aware of the innumerable
Madiha Shaukat
LITR-252
7March2014
THE DIVINE MAN RELATIONSHIP AS DEFINED BY RUMI
The Divine says in the Quran “God loves them and they love Him.” (5:45). A deeper analysis of Rumi’s poetry unfolds the various relationships that exist between the creator and the creation. From among the many relationships, the most prominent one in Rumi’s poetry is that the Beloved/lover relationship. The God says in the Quran, “Call Me, I will respond to you.” (40:60). God has given the status of Ashraf ul makhlooqat to the humans which means the humans are regarded as the most superior of all species. And the luminous beings (angels) were asked to prostrate in front of Adam, such is the status the Divine has bestowed upon the humans. The human is a Vicegerent (Khalifa) of the Divine. According to Rumi, every human being is created with a basic knowledge with which he/she can develop. This innate knowledge put humanity above angels. The beloved not only rests in the heart of the lover but also makes himself visible for the lover through everything that surrounds the lover and also through the lover himself. God says in the Quran, "And He has subjected for your sake whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, the whole from Him. Verily here in are signs to a people who ponder". (45:13). The lover is able to feel the eternal presence of the beloved in everything and at the same time is able to realize that his own presence is of no value and thus is able to see the signs of God. When we further analyze Rumi’s poetry, we realize that Rumi also characterizes this Divine/human relationship as that of a Teacher and a student, The Guide and the follower, The Light and the seeker. Chittick elaborates that all creatures are making God manifest although some are aware while others heedless, according to Rumi God is a hidden treasure and created man to be known. And at several instances in Quran, Allah makes the creation aware of the innumerable
Bibliography: