TEHRAN – Ahmad Khatami, the scholar teaching Persian language and literature at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University, is convinced that the major reason behind the mortality of Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi is his high attention to religious issues.

In Iran and many countries around the world Molana Rumi is annually commemorated on September 29, and in Turkey, December 14 is called Rumi Commemoration Day.
“It seems the issues which kept Rumi’s mind very busy were mostly religion, Quran, and hadiths, that is why Molana did not make use of anything but Islamic teachings in his works which are mostly obvious in his (Masnavi)”, he told the Persian service of ISNA on the occasion of Rumi Commemoration Day.
He went on to say, “But, he has his own style in transferring the religious issues and in the interpretation of the verses of holy Quran, and he was bale to combine them with his poetry beautifully.
“Other reason which has helped Molana to have preserved his high status throughout the history is Molana’s psychological attitude. He has paid high attention to what his readers need, and has also responded to their social and psychological needs.”
Khatami further explained that Rumi does not limit the issues to any specific rank and has a general opinion especially in his Masnavi; therefore, any body in any place in the world can understand Masnavi and find interest in Rumi’s character and his works.
“If I want to say the message of Molana in one sentence, I can say his message is to exalt mankind and educate him to achieve perfection,” he remarked.
“Other thing to mention is Rumi’s making use of nice stories in Masnavi which are mostly popular among people. I believe the young generation of today needs to be connected more with Masnavi, and it is the duty of cultural organizations to enter Masnavi in their literary and cultural activities,” he concluded.