BOOK NO. 72
MAY 2019 – DEC 2019
BismillahHirRahmanNir Rahim
Date of Review : 2.2.2019
Book : RUMI His Teaching and Philosophy
Author Name : R.M. Chopra
Publishedyear : 2018
Publisher: AnuradhaPrakashan
1193, Pankha Road, Nangal Raya, New Delhi 110046
Pages : 193
Price :Rs. 800/-
“Rumi His Teachings and Philosophy” written by octogenarian Sufi scholar R.M. Chopra is from a master hand who has dedicated his entire life for study of Sufism, and all religions of the world. The author has got to his credit 15 books on Sufism, Sikhism and Hinduism and on the Persian poetry. The subject of Sufism is dealt with great clarity, Precision, insight and through understanding. The author has not only mastered the subject but has widely read other scholars on these subjects. Therefore the book under review is a true essence of the teachings and philosophy of great Islamic and poet MoulanaJalaluddin Rumi of Balkh (1207-1273) buried in Qonia Turkey, a place of great reverence and visited daily by lovers of Rumi Poetry and followers of Moulavi (Turkish Mevlavi) order of Dervishes, who have adopted music and dance for propagation of Rumi’s thought and philosophy of love as a medium for merger with the Supreme Love of God.
Moulana Rumi expounds the philosophical, spiritual, mystical and moral percepts of Holy Quran and Prophets Saying (Hadith) with the help of established mystical stories, aesof fables, anecdotes, pithy sayings, epigrammatic idioms. The Moulana’s famous work is Mesnavi Rumi comprising of 26,632 lines in six volumes, Moulana’sghazals. Odes, eulogies, quatrains etc…are all compiled in Diwani-i-Shams-i-Tabrazi. His lectures and talk are compiled Fihi Ma Fihi.
Moulana was a versatile genius who has left an indelible mark on the history of Islamic Mysticism or Tasawuff or Sufism in popular terms. Mystical union cannot be attained without a Sufi master.Moulana was an Islamic scholar and a preacher but his meeting with his mystical divine master Shams Tabriz changed him in to a man of love, who sought union with the Divine.
Moulana Rumi’s work is enormous and encyclopedic,Moulana has taken pain to explain the Islamic philosophy in his stupendous work. The work of Moulana Rumi has remained eternal for its beauty and great spiritual insights. It has transcended national and ethnic borders. It’s considered as Quran in Pehelvi.Moulana Rumi attributes his entire work to his spiritual master shams Tabriz. Moulana was a religious scholar, but the sagely personality of Shams Tabriz brought a change in the outlook thinking and philosophy of Moulana. For last several cednturiesMoulana’s work has remained ever green. His work is timeless and quite relevant even today. The reason that can be attributed to the ever popularity of Moulana’s work is because of Moulana’s immense faith in the Divine. Hismeticulous teaching helps a novice to discover in their own self the light of the Divine. He has clearly expounded the Sufi philosophy of merger with the Divine with the help of one’s Master. In Persian language the master is known as Murshid. The journey to reach Divine is fraught withy several dangers and it is only the Murshid who can help the salik (Disciple) to reach the eternal light of the Divine.
Shri R.M. Chopra has meticulously mastered the work of Moulana Rumi in his work “RUMI His Teachings and Philosophy”, published by AnuradhaPrakashan, New Delhi. Encapsulated in 10 chapters is the gist of Moulana’s teaching and Philosophy. This is a masterly work which requires to be commended.Shri R.M. Chopra has a rare distinction of encapsulating the work of Moulana Rumi in 179 Pages of the book. Each chapter has a section of bibliography. This itself discloses the immense work put forth by the learned author in understanding the complex teachings, discourses and philosophy of Moulana Rumi. The author is well versed in Persian language. This has helped him to understand the entire work of Moulana Rumi. This book will help the readers to know about Mesnavi of Moulana Rumi and other works like Diwan-i-Shams-i-Tabriz and other writings. Each chapter of the book is precious gem as the author has in gist expounded the various facets of the Moulana’s work. The author has also taken pains to compare the work of Moulana and its similarity with Vedanta. In the end in chapter X the author has in brief quoted some of the quotes of Moulana. I recommend this book to all readers who are interested in Sufi work.
Editor
S.L.Peeran
