The Persian Mystics: Jalálu'd-dín Rúmí — F. Hadland Davis
Hadland Davis. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org . If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title : The Persian Mystics: Jalálu'd-dín Rúmí Author : Maulana Jalal al-Din Rumi Editor : F. Hadland Davis Release date : March 17, 2014 [eBook #45159] Most recently updated: October 24, 2024 Language : English Other information and formats : www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45159 Credits : Produced by Marc D'Hooghe (Images generously made available by the Internet Archive) *** START OF HADLAND DAVIS AUTHOR OF "IN THE VALLEY OF STARS THERE IS A TOWER OP SILENCE" WISDOM OF THE EAST THE PERSIAN MYSTICS LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1920 TO A. T. K. THIS LITTLE BOOK OF EASTERN WISDOM IS LOVINGLY INSCRIBED "OUR JOURNEY IS TO THE ROSE-GARDEN OF UNION" JALÁLU'D-DÍN RÚMÍ. PREFACE I desire to thank Mr. R. A. Nicholson for his kind and generous permission to use selections from his Dīvāni Shamsi Tabrīz , and also his publishers, the Cambridge Press. I am deeply indebted to Mr. E. H. Whinfield for allowing me to use quotations from his rendering of the Masnavi (Trübner's Oriental Series). I also cordially thank Mr. John Hastie for giving me permission to quote a few passages from the late Rev. Professor Hastie's "Festival of Spring" (James Maclehose and Sons, Glasgow). The poems quoted from this volume are entitled: "Thy Rose," "I saw the Winter weaving," "Love sounds the Music of the Spheres," "The Souls Love-moved," and "The Beloved All in All." All the other translations from the lyrical poetry of Jalálu'd-Dín Rúmí are by Mr. R. A. Nicholson. To these gentlemen, and to those I have left unnamed, I tender my warmest thanks for their help, sympathy, and interest in my attempt to "popularise the wisest of the Persian Súfís." F. HADLAND DAVIS. LONDON , January 22, 1907. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION I. ORIGIN OF SÚFÍISM II. THE EARLY SÚFÍS III. THE NATURE OF SÚFÍISM IV. THE INFLUENCE OF SÚFÍISM V. ANALYSIS OF THE RELIGION OF LOVE THE LIFE AND WORK OF JALÁLU'D-DÍN RÚMÍ I. LIFE II. SHAMSI TABRĪZ III. THE STORIES OF AL-AFLĀKÍ AND THE DEATH OF JALÁLU'D-DÍN RÚMÍ IV. THE NATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF JALÁLU'D-DÍN RÚMÍ'S POETRY SELECTIONS FROM THE "DĪVĀNI SHAMSI TABRĪZ " SELECTIONS FROM THE "MASNAVI" APPENDIX: A NOTE ON PERSIAN POETRY EDITORIAL NOTE The object of the Editors of this series is a very definite one. They desire above all things that, in their humble way, these books shall be the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West—the old world of Thought and the new of Action. In this endeavour, and in their own sphere, they are but followers of the highest example in the land. They are confident that a deeper knowledge of the great ideals and lofty philosophy of Oriental thought may help to a revival of that true spirit of Charity which neither despises nor fears the nation of another creed and colour. L. CRANMER-BYNG. S. A. KAPADIA. NORTHBROOK SOCIETY, 21, CROMWELL ROAD, KENSINGTON, S.W. INTRODUCTION I. THE ORIGIN OF SÚFÍISM Among the Mohammedans Súfíism, or Persian mysticism, is known as tasawwuf . The word Sidi is derived from súf , meaning "wool." When a little Persian sect at the end of the eighth century A.D. broke away from the orthodox Muslim religion, and struck out on an independent path, they ignored costly robes and worldly ostentation, and clad themselves in a white wool garment. Hence they were known as "wool wearers," or Súfís. Prof. Edward G. Browne [1] gives four theories in regard to the origin of Súfíism, viz.: (1) Esoteric Doctrine of the Prophet .(2) Reaction of the Aryan mind against a Semitic religion . (3) Neo-Platonist influence .(4) Independent origin . Neither of the four theories altogether satisfies the learned professor, and very certain it is that the last-mentioned theory is of very little account. Prof. Browne seems in favour of a "spontaneous growth" existing in various forms, under various names throughout the civilised world; but after all this is not very tangible evidence. Moreover, we must bear in mind that the Neo-Platonist philosophers paid a visit to the Persian court in the sixth century A.D. , and founded a school there in the reign of Núshír-wan. It is highly probable, therefore, that these seven philosophers, forced to leave their homes through the tyranny of Justinian, who forbade the teaching of philosophy at Athens, should have had considerable influence upon a few of the more thoughtful Persians. We shall now find that this theory is borne out by internal evidence. Let us briefly study the tenets of Neo-Platonism. The Neo-Platonists believed in the Supreme Good as the Source of all things. Self-existent, it generated from itself. Creation was the reflection of its own Being. Nature, therefore, was permeated with God. Matter was essentially non-existent, a temporary and ever-moving shadow for the embodiment of the Divine. The Neo-Platonists believed that by ecstasy and contemplation of the All-Good, man would rise to that Source from whence he came. These points bear directly upon the Súfí teaching. They form a broad outline of the tenets of Súfíism. The Súfís, from temperamental and other causes, elaborated these ideas, gave them a rich and beautiful setting, and, what is all-important, built about them one of the most interesting phases of mystical poetry the world has ever known, and this particular phase may be said to date from the twelfth century A.D. Thus, I think, it will be readily admitted that the Súfís certainly owed something to the Neo-Platonists. The cry for the Beloved was in their hearts before the Greek philosophers came; but Neo-Platonism appealed to their Oriental minds. It was a stepping-stone across the river of their particular spiritual tendencies, and they trod thereon, and proceeded to lay down other stones acros