BY DR. MANSOOR MALIK
Throughout history, many great scholars, thinkers and spiritual teachers have enlightened humanity. Yet only a few have left a legacy that continues to inspire hearts across centuries. One such remarkable personality was Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi (1207–1273), whose message of divine love, wisdom and human unity remains alive throughout the world. He was born in 1207 into a distinguished Muslim scholarly family associated with Balkh, a celebrated centre of Islamic learning and civilisation.
His father, Sheikh Bahauddin Muhammad Walad, was a respected Islamic scholar, jurist and spiritual teacher, honoured with the title Sultan al-Ulama, Sultan of Scholars. His gatherings attracted scholars and ordinary people seeking religious knowledge and spiritual guidance. His teachings were deeply rooted in the Holy Qur’an, the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Oneness of Allah, purification of the heart and noble human character.
Growing up in this environment, young Jalaluddin received an education that would later shape his extraordinary intellectual and spiritual journey. Rumi eventually became one of the world’s most celebrated spiritual thinkers and poets. His teachings remind humanity that true faith is not merely the declaration of Allah’s Oneness by the tongue, but its sincere confirmation in the heart, reflected through love, humility and service to humanity.
Nearly eight centuries later, his spiritual wisdom continues to reach people beyond the boundaries of language, culture and civilisation. But how did this remarkable journey begin? Why did Sultan al-Ulama leave his homeland, and how did his family eventually reach Konya, where young Jalaluddin would become the great Mevlana Rumi ?
The fascinating journey continues in Part Two. THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM OF LOVE. Love everyone and hate no one. Keep only one weapon — LOVE. Break all the other weapons
