They preached moderation and love for humanity and shunned hatred and extremism
PESHAWAR: It is heartening to know that Hollywood’s Oscar-winning Screenwriter David Franzoni is making a film based on the life of Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi, starring Leonardo Dicaprio. The West has studied and researched his works and admires it comprehensively. Media icons like Madonna, Demi Moore and Martin Sheen read translations of his works praising a higher being over music. Recordings of Rumi’s poems have made it to the Billboard’s Top 20 list. American film director, screenwriter, producer, and Academy Award winner Oliver Stone earlier wanted to make a film based on his life. Donna Karen, the American fashion designer, plays Rumi recitations at her fashion shows. Rumi’s universal appeal for love of humanity, which transcends national borders and ethnic or religious divide, has made him popular in the West.
It is unfortunate that our present generation is not well informed about the greatness of Muslim Sufi poets. Our textbooks should include lessons on the life and works of Sufi, mystic poets and scholars. It is important to enlighten our present generation about the teachings of these Sufi scholars. They preached moderation and love for humanity and shunned hatred and extremism. That is precisely why they are admired by people of all religious faiths. By equipping our present generation with the teachings of Rumi, the true spirit of Islam, which is based on love for all humanity, can be better understood.
M Sayyad Alam Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2016.
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