How Rumi Inspired the World?

Although Rumi’s works are literary works of a Muslim jurist and mystic, written in the Persian language, they crossed the barriers of language, religion and culture to reach different peoples belonging to different civilizations and cultures.

Although the first printing of the Masnavi (the Persian version) took place in Cairo in 1835, the West’s interest in studying the life and works of Rumi has far surpassed that of the Islamic world. Many translators of Rumi’s works into Arabic even cited the English and French translations by various Orientalists rather than the original Persian texts.

Rumi has had a profound influence on Indo-Islamic culture since the 14th century, particularly when Nizamuddin Auliya, the great spiritual leader of the Chishti Order, wrote a commentary on the Masnavi.

However, Rumi’s greatest impact on modern Indian culture came through the Islamic poet and philosopher Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938), who regarded Rumi as his spiritual guide and referred to him as "the prince of the caravan of love."

The Western world’s interest in studying Rumi’s personality and poetry began as early as the 18th century, when diplomats and travelers visited the Ottoman Empire, encountered the Mevlevi Order, and observed the famous Sama performance. They then began sharing their experiences with their home countries.

Western Orientalists played a crucial role in introducing Rumi to the West. British Orientalist Reynold Alleyne Nicholson was one of the first to translate Rumi’s works, publishing selections from Shams of Tabriz in 1898. Over the next 15 years, Nicholson also published an eight-volume translation of the Masnavi. His translations significantly shaped the understanding of Rumi’s poetry in English-speaking cultures. Additionally, Nicholson’s work had a major influence on Arab scholars and translators, as many of them translated Rumi’s poems from his English versions.

Interest in Rumi’s literature surged in the early 20th century, with a significant number of Orientalists studying and translating his works. Notable among them were British Orientalist Arthur John Arberry (1905-1969) and the German scholar Annemarie Schimmel (1922-2003), who authored The Triumphal Sun, a comprehensive study and analysis of Rumi’s poetry.

The French Islamologist Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch (1909-1999), who came to Islam through her study of Rumi’s poetry, made significant contributions to translating Rumi’s works into French and Arabic. In 1990, she completed a French translation of the Masnavi. She also requested to be buried next to Rumi’s mausoleum in Konya, Turkey. After her passing in 1999, her body was moved to Konya in 2008 and laid to rest in a cemetery opposite Rumi’s mausoleum.

However, the real impact of Rumi’s poetry on Western culture began with American poet and writer Coleman Barks, who brought Rumi’s works from the academic realm to popular culture. In 1976, Barks published poems inspired by his translations of the Masnavi, marking a pivotal moment in Rumi’s reception in the West. Barks, though not fluent in Farsi, worked with translators to render Rumi’s poetry. His adaptation of Rumi’s verses into American free verse style played a significant role in spreading Rumi’s influence in popular circles. In the 1990s, Rumi’s poems became widely known in the U.S., with pop singers like Madonna, John Bon Jovi, Goldie Hawn, and Demi Moore performing them at their concerts. This exposure furthered Rumi’s presence in Western culture, broadening his influence across various sectors of society.

Rumi's growing influence in Western culture, marked by his works becoming bestsellers in the U.S. between 2004 and 2006, led UNESCO to celebrate him in 2007 on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of his birth. A grand celebration was held in Paris, alongside various events across 18 countries worldwide.

In 2015, American singer Christopher Anthony John Martin (Chris Martin), lead vocalist of the band Coldplay, included excerpts from Rumi’s poem The Guest House in the band's new album. The song achieved great success both in the U.S. and internationally.

Rumi’s influence in Western culture is widespread, particularly in popular and artistic circles, in contrast to his influence in the Islamic world—especially in the Arab world—where his impact has largely remained within academic circles.

Eric Geoffroy, a French professor of Philosophy and Mysticism at the University of Strasbourg, who has also taught at universities in Damascus, points out that the spiritual atmosphere of Persian and Turkish mysticism is simpler and more accessible compared to Arab spirituality. He argues that Rumi’s teachings are easier to understand than those of renowned Arab mystics like Ibn Arabi and Ibn al-Farid, which makes Rumi’s poetry more appealing to the West.