To Him Shall We Return
I died as inanimate matter and arose a plant,
I died as a plant and rose again an animal.
I died as an animal and arose a man.
Why then should I fear to become less by dying?
I shall die once again as a man
To rise an angel perfect from head to foot!
Again when I suffer dissolution as an angel,
I shall become what passes the conception of man!
Let me then become non-existent, for non-existence
Sings to me in organ tones, 'To him shall we return.'
- Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi (Masnavi I Ma'navi, Book III, Story XVII)
About the Poet
MawlÄnÄ JalÄl-ad-DÄ«n Muhammad RÅ«mÄ« (September 30, 1207–December 17, 1273), was a 13th century Persian (Tajik) poet, Islamic jurist, and theologian. Rumi is a descriptive name meaning "the Roman" since he lived most parts of his life in Anatolia which had become part of the Byzantine Empire two centuries before. After Rumi's death, his followers founded the MowlawÄ«yah, better known as the "Whirling Dervishes," who believe in performing their worship in the form of dance and music ceremony called the samÄÊ¿. Rumi's importance is considered to transcend national and ethnic borders. Throughout the centuries he has had a significant influence on Persian as well as Urdu and Turkish literatures. His poems have been widely translated into many of the world's languages in various formats, and BBC News has described him as the "most popular poet in America".
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