Masnavi Maulana Rumi — The Quran in Persian Language

Introduction

These are 28500 verses, marked with edified wisdom, profound sensitivity and divine flashes, trickled down from the pen of Maulana Jalal ud Din Rumi (on whom be peace) under blissful mentorship of Hazrat Shams Tabrezi.
Maulana Rumi was solicited by his beloved companion and disciple Hazrat Hussam ud Din to compose these verses, succinct in style and endowed with universal meanings.

Masnavi as Described by Allama Iqbal and Maulana Jami

Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Maulana Jami describe Masnavi as The Quran in Persian language.

(Maulana Jaami)

ہست قرآن در زبان پہلوی
مثنوی مولوی معنوی

(Allama Iqbal)

روئے خود بنمود پیرحق سرشت
کو بحرف پہلوی قرآن نوشت

The Divine Essence of Masnavi

Masnavi is not merely an emblem of poetic genius but it’s a timeless manuscript of morality, logic and beliefs.
It’s kind of divine inspiration not revealed to Maulana Rumi but inculcated in his heart by Allah Almighty.
In the first verse of Masnavi Maulana Rumi employs unprecedented metaphor of flute that stands for the soul of man.

The Flute as the Symbol of Human Soul

The soul, engrossed in love, ecstasy remembrance of the creator, when transported from heavenly abode (عالم ملکوت) to material world
(عالم ناسوت), had to face the pangs of separation.
It also experienced the mitigation of divine gusto and heavenly vision or total elimination of godly grace.
Contrarily, physical attributes strengthened with enhancement of anger, lust, avarice etc.
Whenever the soul finds blessings and companionship of a spiritually exalted mentor, it feels nostalgic about paradisiacal abode
(عالم ملکوت) so it wails over the lost territory.
It craves for the bygone time when it was enthralled by the sight حضوری of Allah and engrossed in his remembrance.

The Soul’s Lamentation and Longing

Since the soul is dowered with holy suffering arising out of sense of separation from the Creator as well as loss of its sublime attributes, it sounds fretting over its debility.

The Message of the First Verse

Maulana Rumi, in the first verse of the Masnavi, has diverted our attention to the woes of the soul, symbolised by flute.
Human soul is destined to wallow in mourning, melancholy and pangs of separation until it beholds the Creator and hears this glad tidings:

“سلام قولا من رب الرحیم”