This morning, in the Sharjah Arts Museum, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Emirate’s ruler's successor, opened the exhibition "Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi: 750 years of absence... all ages of presence," which will be held over a three-month period until February 14, 2025, in the Dome of Wisdom in Sharjah.
Upon the arrival at the opening of the exhibition, His Highness Sheikh Budur bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairwoman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the Government Relations Department, Minister of Health and Community Prevention Sheikh Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Bati Al-Hamidi, then the assistant to the cultural advisor to His Highness the President of the Republic of Zaki Nasib and the president of the Council of Directors of the Muhammad Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, and a number of senior officials, heads of departments, and governmental agencies, and accredited diplomats in the country.
Sheikh Budur bin Sultan Al Qasimi, founder and inspirer of the "Enlightenment" events, noted: "Sharjah has always been a place for cultural convergence, uniting nations. Through the wisdom of the great Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi and the history of his life and deep influence on world literature and philosophy, which we will be discussing throughout the entire period of the exhibition, we emphasize that every interaction with art and heritage represents an important step towards understanding our shared human roots. Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi teaches us that love, understanding, and dialogue transcend boundaries and limitations, calling us to explore the depths of our spiritual lives and enrich our experiences, affirming our ability together to build a world where solidarity, cooperation, and hope prevail."
A high-profile guest toured the exhibition, familiarizing themselves with the main content dedicated to the immortal legacy of the poet, philosopher, and writer Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi, presenting visitors with the opportunity to explore his life journey and influence on world literature, philosophy, and Sufism.
This exhibition marked the beginning of the "Festival of Enlightenment," which is a holiday aiming to strengthen cultural diversity and social interaction, reaffirming the values of understanding, tolerance, dialogue, and spiritual enlightenment under the slogan "Eternal Echo of Love and Light." The festival, which will take place from November 22 to 24 in the Empty Mliha, draws wisdom from the poems of Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi and combines music, poetry, and art with the participation of selected great artists from around the world.
The exhibition consists of three sections, focusing on the key stages of the life of Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi. The first section, titled "Early Years and Geographic Journey," describes the early phase of Rumi's life from the moment of his birth in the city of Balkh and his geographical journey with family to his settlement in Konya, highlighting important figures that influenced the thoughts of Rumi in this period, particularly his father, the great jurist Bahauddin Walid, who was his first mentor and inspirer, as well as Mukhyi ad-Din ibn Arabi and other scholars.
The second section, "Enlightenment and Spiritual Transformation," focuses on the important meeting in the life of Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi after his encounter with Shams ad-Din at-Tabrizi and the influence of this meeting on Rumi himself. He renounced prejudice, advice, and calls, abandoned his students, and embarked on the path of Sufism, which is based on love, which he named "divine love," and also began to write poetry for the first time. This meeting marked the beginning of a new phase, transforming Rumi's life, his philosophy, and thoughts forever.
The last section is titled "Immortal Legacy and Continual Influence" and highlights the long-term influence of Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi more than 8 centuries after his departure, his students and followers of his legacy after his death, including his famous Sultan Walid, the founder of the Mevlevi order, and includes within it "the blue robe" that Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi wore at Sufi gatherings and meditations, as well as a collection of ancient artifacts and musical instruments of the Muravian Mevlevi in the collection of the Mevlana Museum in Konya.
The substitute ruler of Sharjah honored the participants of the exhibition, including the Mevlana Museum in the Turkish birthplace of Konya, the Minister of Health and Community Prevention, the Sharjah Museums Authority, the Department of Government Relations in Sharjah, the Bardzil Arts Fund, the Al-Handas Islamic Gift, the Islamic Bank of Sharjah allowing them to take photographs with him for memory. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to enjoy unique pieces, including manuscripts, artistic works, and symbolic musical predicates, including a manuscript of the Quran, dated to the 13th century, and the book "Divan-i Kebir" or "Divan Shams ad-Din at-Tabrizi" and a royal Sultanese exemplar of the book "Masnavi" by Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi, allowing visitors to interact with the lasting influence of Jalal ad-Din ar-Rumi, his philosophy on divine love and unity, the echoes of which continue to resonate among generations and cultures.
