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Justin Liew

Mystical Traditions In Islam


Eighth Essay: Rumi
3. What did Rumi think of established religion?
In All False Doctrines Contain an Element of Truth, Rumi says that There is no fancy in
the universe without some truth, and he who says all is false is a knave. Similarly, All
Religions are in Substance One and the Same goes Because the praised is none but the
One, all religions by this token are the same. The titles of the poems themselves are
certainly clear and indicative enough of Rumis thoughts on religion. This
democratization of religion goes further in the lines all praise is directed to Gods light,
and Men do not praise that which is not worthy. It could certainly be argued that since
everything in Creation is created by God, everything that we can praise is indeed
directed to Gods light. However, this is an extremely broad definition: what then for
the praise of debauchery and sin?1
Indeed, Rumi says, they only err in mistaking another for Him it seems then that
there is a very wide spectrum of behaviors which contain some measure of truth. But
while Rumi makes lenient allowances, in the two poems, he uses metaphors to say that
there is only one special One you must distinguish the Faqir among the rag-wearers,
the king from the beggar, and the Moon from its reflection. Failure to do so, i.e. to praise
the Moons guises, will lead us astray, causing confusion and reaping sorrow. Is
this a stab at other religions? Does Rumi think that Islam is the one true religion, and that
following other religions lead to confusion and sorrow? The metaphorical techniques in
the poems do not make it clear at all where Rumi might draw the line that separates the
One from the others, so it is hard to say. The dancing syntax of multiple inversions of the
same clause in All False Doctrines adds to the ephemeral quality of Rumis poems
where ibn Al-Arabi is direct (albeit esoteric), Rumi is simple yet implicit.
Perhaps that was exactly Rumis intention: to paint a picture of the goal in our heads, but
not how to get there. The impetus is on us to search well and find out that true one.
Rumi says, He who accepts everything as true is a fool, but he who says all is false is a
knave. In other words, not everything is true, and not everything is false. Everything has
some truth in it, which is what makes it so difficult to seek the right one, but the lack of
any further elaboration or advice from Rumi could have its own implicationthat
everyone has to find their own way, and whichever path they tread, is paved with at least
some truth. Everyones religion is valid because truth is everywhere, but at the same time
there is that One Truth2. Relative truth and absolute truth coexist in Rumis wonderful
world of wine and drunkenness.

1 The worship of the ancient golden calf has returned in a new and ruthless guise in the idolatry of money
and the dictatorship of an impersonal economy lacking a truly human purpose. Pope Francis, 2013
2 i.e. All animals are equal; but some are more equal than others.

Nevertheless, this tension between truth and religion is gently dispersed in Where is the
Way?, which puts very simply the way forward: if youre on the wrong way, avoid it.3
One moment spent away from the Beloveds street is forbidden in the religion of the
lovers. Waitis Rumi talking about religion or a romantic relationship here? Or are they
both the same? Anyway, he says, the path is not easy, and then in the next breath utters
to his heart, O restless heart, stay at a place that suits you best, () ask for that wine that
lightens the soul. Ah, what a peaceful image, like an evening stroll along the boulevard
hand-in-hand with your Beloved. A rather stark contrast to how small the gate and
narrow the road according to Matthew. Yes, to Rumi you do the best you can, getting
drunk in the process, and completely infatuated with your Beloved. Having an
established religion, or just any other religion, helps too, whichever one it may be (and
it may or may not lead to confusion and sorrow). Whatever you find will have some
validity to it, although it might not be the best one. Now, if only everyone else were as
tolerant as this
*P.S. I do realize just how iffy and unclear this essay is in terms of answering the prompt
What did Rumi think of established religion?, and it does seem to have more questions
than answers, but somehow I find that fitting given the answers his poems provide to this
question.

3 Where is the way that I was treading? I avoid it as it was the wrong way.

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