Submission to Love and the Relativity of Tradition
Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi defines love as the highest form of worship. In his view, serving love is a mandatory obligation; other religious duties remain in the shadow of this love. While this approach may seem to contradict the fundamental principles of Islamic ethics, the love that Rumi intends is a profound connection to divine love and represents a truth that transcends all obligations for those who experience it. The importance of love experienced with the sincerity of the heart is emphasized beyond the rigid rules of traditional religious worship; because this love makes humanity feel closer to its creator and directs it towards love with its entire being.
Integration with Love and Transcendence of the Ego
In Rumi’s works, love is not just a feeling but also a process of transformation. The lover begins by playing with love and eventually feels disgust for it; this expresses the helplessness of the nafs-i emmare (the ego driven by worldly desires) in the face of the depth of love. Love transcends human limitations and frees him from the shackles of his mortal existence. Rumi asks how love weighs down a person as if their arm and wing are tied, explaining that true love is a liberating force for humanity; this liberation is possible only by breaking free from the captivity of the ego.
Unity and Reflection of Divine Beauty
In Rumi, love is an important reflection of the concept of *wahdat al-wujud* (unity of existence). He expresses that all the beauty in the world originates from the same source as the deep desire for divine beauty. According to Rumi, every beautiful thing is a manifestation of God and the lover can grasp truth by integrating with this manifestation. In this context, Mevlana emphasized the uniqueness of Shamsu Tabrizi (the symbol of divine love), saying, “indeed, the most noble of nobles is God and the religion of Shams,” stating that there is no equal to him anywhere. This demonstrates Rumi’s deep respect for divine beauty and his commitment to its reflections in the world.