Moulana Rumi's shrine in Konya

In commemoration of the 800th birthday of Moulana Rumi, UNESCO is honouring the great Persian mystic poet by dedicating 2007 as the International Year of Moulana Rumi. During this year of commemoration, one of the major events held was an international symposium in Turkey from May 8th to 12th, commencing in Istanbul and concluding with a visit to this much loved Sufi Saint in his resting place in Konya.

Ekrem Isin, James Morris, Mahmud Erol Kilic,
Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Ahmet Yasar Ocak, William Chittick

Over 130 scholars and lovers of Moulana Rumi were invited from all over the world to attend this special event. One of the highlights of this five day symposium was the keynote speech delivered at the opening ceremony by Dr Seyyed Hossein Nasr, the world leading Islamic and Irfanic scholar. His presentation beautifully captured, articulated and summarised a picture of Islam and the situation in the world today. He brought in glimpses of light from Moulana Rumi’s teachings and poetry and consolidated and reflected a range of complex issues into one comprehensive clear picture, whilst also raising awareness of the need for accountability and action.

Dr Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Fleur Nassery Bonnin

Over the five days we heard from eminent speakers from across the globe. From Australia, Fleur Nassery Bonnin (founder and director of the Australian Centre for Sufism and Irfanic Studies) dived into the ocean of the inner meanings of Moulana Rumi’s teachings with a presentation entitled ‘In Search of the Pearls in the Ocean of Moulana’s Poetry’.

William Chittick, Fleur Nassery Bonnin and Giuseppe Scattolin

Fleur Nassery Bonnin, Sachiko Murata and William Chittick		Kabir Helminski, Fleur Nassery Bonnin and Alan Godlas

Many speakers from the USA participated including William Chittick, who shared his thoughts on ‘The Need for Need’ along with presentations by other distinguished scholars and Sufi’s including Carl Ernst, James Morris, Omid Safi, Sachiko Murata, Alan Godlas, Robert Frager, Kabir and Camille Helminski, to name but a few.

From other countries around the world including Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Italy, France, Spain, Malaysia, Indonesia, England, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the host country Turkey, speakers covered a variety of Moulana Rumi related topics from poetry to psychology to Mevlevi orders.

Whilst areas of particular expertise and perspectives may have been different, they were brought together by a common goal to honour one of God’s most important chosen servants and to celebrate his life and Insha’Allah to learn from his teachings, life and legacy. As Fleur Nassery Bonnin said:

“Other Sufi Masters, mystics and poets have also walked this path, however it seems that Allah has made such a display of Moulana’s personal journey for us, so that we can relate to it, and could see and hear from Moulana himself, what happens when one walks on the path of Shariah and Tariqah and reaches Haqiqah and dissolves the old shabby fabric of self. This mesmerising quality of his words, that moves people from all over the world and talks to their inner hearts, is due only to the scent of perfume of the Beloved.

           I am His cup and His wine jug, I am the dispenser of the scent of His perfume
                      Come to me so that you could receive the scent of His perfumed attributes

          What ever you have heard from us, you have heard it from God
                      Since all that we are saying is from His sayings