Was Jalal al-Din al-Rumi a deviant Sufi or a pious scholar, and is it advisable to read his book "Mathnawi Ma'nawi"?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Jalal al-Din al-Rumi is one of the famous Sufis who followed Ibn Arabi's methodology in asserting the oneness of existence (wahdat al-wujud), incarnation (hulul), and union (ittihad), which are among the principles of atheism. Evidence of his deviance includes his saying: "I am a Muslim, but I am also a Christian, a Brahmin, and a Zoroastrian." He founded the Mawlawi order, and among their innovations is prostrating to the names of their imams and shaykhs. Therefore, it is not advisable to read his books and poems.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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