ISLAMABAD: Lok Virsa and Dastan paid tributes to the scholar, poet and philosopher Jalaluddin Mohammad Rumi on his death anniversary with music and recitations of his poetry.

His poetry was recited in Persian with translations in Urdu by professors from the National University of Modern Languages (Numl).

The event began with a short history of Rumi, who was described as the most popular and best-selling poet in the United States.

Numl professor Dr Rashida Hassan said Rumi was a 13th century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic whose influence transcends national borders and ethnic divisions.

She said Iranians, Tajiks, Turks, Greeks, Pakhtuns, Central Asian Muslims, and Muslims from South Asia have greatly appreciated his spiritual legacy for the past seven centuries.

His poems have been widely translated, and he is best known for his spiritual poetry in the masnavi, which greatly influenced spiritual thought throughout the Muslim world.

“Though he trained as a jurist and a teacher under the guidance of his father, Rumi transformed into a mystic after he met the wandering dervish Shams-i-Tabrizi in the streets of Konya.

“Shams introduced Rumi to the mysterious beauty of the divine beloved and for months the two mystics lived close together, until one night Shams disappeared forever. [Rumi] wrote Diwan-i-Shams-i-Tabrizi in honour of his master, Shams,” Dr Hassan said.

She also recited some of Rumi’s work, including Gulistan-i-Aarzost.

Dr Shugufta translated Na Man Byhoda Garday and Ay Qoam-i-Byhijar, performed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Ahmed Tahir, an Afghan singer, which were played at the event.

In the first, the poet talks to God about his love for him, and in the second, the poet asks people who have gone to perform Haj to return and find God in their hearts rather than searching for him in the outside world.

Dr Shugufta said Rumi’s work reflects various stages of love, because of which his message has reached millions of people who found his poetry to be a clear example of modesty, beauty, tolerance and reason.

Amber Awan, the head of Dastan, said: “Apart from paying tribute to a great poet, the basic aim of this evening was to convey Rumi’s message to the people who don’t understand Persian. This evening will give them insight of his poetry.”

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2016