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Ali Yıldırım

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Konya, a historically and culturally rich city located in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey, is closely associated with the life and works of the Islamic scholar, poet, and mystic, Hazrat Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi. Konya played a significant role in Mevlana’s life and became the center of his spiritual journey.

Konya and Its Historical Treasures

Throughout history, Konya has been a prominent city that hosted various civilizations, including the Hittites, Phrygians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans. As a result, Konya boasts numerous historical artifacts and structures that reflect its rich past.

Being the capital of the Seljuk Empire, Konya especially showcases significant examples of Seljuk architectural heritage. Buildings such as the Mevlana Museum, Alaaddin Hill, Karatay Medrese, and Ince Minareli Medrese represent the historical and cultural wealth of Konya.

Arrival of Hazrat Mevlana in Konya

Hazrat Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi was born in the city of Balkh in the early 13th century. His father, Bahauddin Veled, migrated with his family to Anatolia due to the Mongol invasions and political upheavals, settling in Konya. Mevlana arrived in Konya in 1228, where he conducted great scholarly work and taught Sufism and Islamic sciences to his disciples.

Konya became a turning point in Mevlana’s life. His encounter with the mystic scholar Shams Tabrizi played a vital role in deepening his thoughts and accelerating his spiritual journey. Shams’ sudden arrival and disappearance brought about a profound change in Mevlana’s inner world, laying the foundation for his thoughts centered around love and affection.

The City of Love: Mevlana and Konya

Hazrat Mevlana believed that love and affection were the most powerful means to bring individuals closer to God, and he emphasized this in his works. His poems describe how love fills the heart with enthusiasm and directs individuals towards universal love. His renowned work, “Mathnawi,” encompasses profound reflections on the greatness and power of love.

Mevlana believed that love united individuals and led them towards God. Therefore, in his mystical understanding, love, compassion, and tolerance hold significant importance. Mevlana’s ideas have contributed to opening people’s hearts, strengthening their relationships, and fostering a culture of coexistence.

The Foundations of the Mevlevi Order

Mevlana continued to teach his Sufi beliefs and philosophy of love in Konya. One significant turning point in his life was when he started the circular dance of the whirling dervishes, called “Sema Ayini,” after Shams Tabrizi’s disappearance. Sema became a symbolic ritual representing Mevlana’s thoughts and laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Mevlevi Order.

After Mevlana’s passing, his students and followers established the Mevlevi Order, which has managed to carry Mevlana’s thoughts and philosophy of love to the present day. The Mevlevi Order, a mystical journey focused on the universality of love, continues to have followers worldwide.

The Mevlana Museum: Hazrat Mevlana’s Dergah

Hazrat Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi passed away in Konya in 1273. As per his will, Mevlana’s tomb and monument were built at the location of the present-day Mevlana Museum. The Mevlana Museum is one of Konya’s most significant tourist and religious centers, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

The museum houses Mevlana’s tomb and dergah (convent). Visitors gain insights into Mevlana’s thoughts and philosophy of love while visiting his tomb. Additionally, a grand commemoration ceremony is held every year on December 17th, in memory of Mevlana’s passing.

Konya is a significant city, deeply connected to the life and thoughts of the Islamic scholar, poet, and mystic, Hazrat Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi. Mevlana’s ideas about love, affection, and the culture of coexistence have endured as his spiritual legacy and spread worldwide through the Mevlevi Order. Konya stands as a mystical city that carries the traces of Mevlana’s life and thoughts, welcoming thousands of visitors each year.