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Why does the West show an interest in Mevlana?

by
İBRAHİM ÖZDEMİR*
We know that Mevlana Muhammed Jelaluddin Rumi is a widely read poet in the West. His
translated works are bestsellers in European and other Western countries.

His poetry is recorded in electronic media, including tapes and CDs. Famous pop stars
like Madonna recite from his poems in their songs and albums in an effort to pay tribute
to his ideas and system of thought as well as to reach out to his followers. Most
interestingly, those who show interest in his works include people from different religions
and ethnicities.

Until recently, however, only academics knew him. But today he has become a strong
source of inspiration in American literature. His most important aspect is his ability to
embrace all and transmit his message to everyone without hurting anyone. And for this
reason Mevlana may not be treated as an ordinary Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Jewish
monk. He has fulfilled the requirements of his potential and become a perfect man. Such
people transcend their local cultures and boundaries; they reach out to the entire
humanity. This is the reason why his poems are recited in churches, synagogues and art
centers of New York. It seems that he is the Mevlana (guide) of the entire humanity.

So why do people show interest in Mevlana? What do they find in his works? What could
Mevlana, who lived in Konya in the 13th century, possibly give the globalizing world and
modern man?

These questions are asked by many people; answers to such questions will matter for a
number of reasons. They provide important clues to those who would like to appeal to
Western readers. Muslims living in Europe may also benefit from these answers. Most
importantly, there should be lessons that we, the people who live on the soil where
Mevlana spent his life, could draw.

Shahram Shiva is one of those who wonder why Americans show interest in Mevlana and
his works. He admired Mevlana when he first heard his poems and subsequently
translated many of them into English. He also recites Mevlana's works in stand-up
programs and various meetings; he has released tapes and CDs. He held a workshop on
why people read Mevlana and asked participants to state why they show interest in his
works. The responses were recorded and subsequently reviewed carefully.

After the review, Shiva classified the data into 12 categories. He listed 12 reasons for
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why people show interest in Mevlana.

1. Mevlana was not an intellectual

Religion is a field of senses and emotions; participants noted that Mevlana spoke to their
hearts, emotions, senses, internal world and their self rather than their minds.

2. Different levels of meaning

Participants referred to different levels of meaning in Mevlana's works; they explored

different dimensions in his poems just like different layers surrounding a rose. They get
more acquainted with his depth as they read him more. As a result of this endeavor, they
became more encouraged to take a deeper journey into his thoughts.

3. Unity

Unity, harmony and integrity in Mevlana's works appealed to the participants.

4. Friend

The majority of the participant saw Mevlana as a friend while reading his works.

5. Personal contact and relationship

Reading Mevlana is a personal process and experience. It is an existentialist experience;

his admirers joined the endeavor to explore the meaning of themselves and the cosmos.
They strived as his colleagues and companions.

6. Mercy and peace

Readers of Mevlana have experienced that they found peace and mercy when reading
him.

7. Desire and yearning

Participants were attracted to the desire, yearning and love in Mevlana's works; they
wanted to experience the same feeling by reading the Mesnevi.

8. Love

Some participants admitted that they fell in love with Mevlana.

9. Bridge between religions

The participants held that Mevlana is a bridge between Muslims living in European
countries and non-Muslims. Many Muslims were welcomed in the US because of Mevlana.
A number of Westerners who read and fell in love with Mevlana improved their ties with
Muslims in their country. Mevlana got different groups closer. He contributed a great deal
to their attempt to coexist and live together in a multicultural environment.

10. Those who do not like poetry

Some participants note that they actually do not like poetry but stress that they love
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reading his poems.

11. Participation in the process

Participants stressed that Mevlana expressed himself perfectly and added that they only
joined him during this process.

12. Mevlana as a guide

Participants noted that they see Mevlana as a spiritual guide for themselves.

Recalling that the West has been in pursuit of something that goes beyond their own
institutionalized religions, Talat Halman perfectly sums up this interest, which he
describes as "Mevlana season": "Sufism attracts a great deal of attention and interest
because it is based on a relation of direct love and spiritual connection between God and
the individual and transcends conventional religious rules and institutions. You should
also add Mevlana's humanity, enthusiastic poetry, forgiveness and pacifism
entrancement that takes you out of ordinary daily life. And of course you should also
note the celestial magnificence of the sema [whirling dervish ceremony]."

This excerpt shows that there are different reasons for reading Mevlana and that these
reasons provide us with important messages.

We can obviously rely on his thoughts and works while trying to maintain interfaith
dialogue and an alliance of civilizations. Muslims in the West will be most welcomed as
long as they become familiar with Mevlana and his works. Reliance on Mevlana and his
works will be of great help in expressing themselves. A ney (reed flute) recital will attract
the attention of the audience before delivering a speech. They will witness how the
invisible thick walls built by illiteracy and holders of bad faith are torn down.

Words of Kabir Helminski, a leading Western expert of Mevlana, still linger in my ears:
"Mevlana came out of his grave to explain Islam and he is explaining it to the entire
world."

*Professor İbrahim Özdemir is a professor of the philosophy of history at Ankara

University's school of divinity and the director general of the Ministry of Education.

Todays Zaman, 17 December 2008, Wednesday

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=161453