Understanding Mevlana: A Journey Through Symbols

Mevlânâ’s world views symbols as doorways to truth. In this article, we will explore his symbolic language in simple terms, particularly through the ney and his understanding of human nature.

A symbol is when one thing represents another. We do this even in daily life. For example, a heart shape conveys “love,” and the color white evokes a feeling of “purity.”

Symbols have long existed in Islamic thought. For instance, the ritual of stoning the devil during the Hajj pilgrimage is not merely about throwing stones; it symbolizes the human desire to free oneself from inner base impulses.^【1】

Mevlânâ, along with other figures such as Yunus Emre and Kaygusuz Abdal, used symbols to convey truths. Mevlânâ, in his Mesnevî, often describes human conditions through stories and symbols. This is because symbols speak not only to the intellect but also to the heart.

Mevlânâ Celâleddin Rûmî is distinguished by his ability to express deep and complex truths through simple yet powerful symbols. Rather than giving direct advice, he uses stories, metaphors, and images. Thus, the reader does not merely understand—he also feels.

^{Ney (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)}

Mevlânâ uses animals to illustrate certain negative traits within human nature. Four key symbols stand out:

• The Goose: Represents greed.
• The Rooster: Symbolizes lust.
• The Peacock: Conveys vanity and love of status.
• The Crow: Represents insatiable desires.^【2】

According to Mevlânâ, if a person can discipline these “inner animals”—controlling greed, selfishness, and endless desires—he becomes more patient, content, and humble. The true struggle lies within the self.

One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of Mevlânâ is the ney. The first 18 couplets of the Mesnevî begin with the ney. For Mevlânâ, the ney is not merely a musical instrument; it is the story of the human soul.

The ney moans because it has been torn from the reed bed. This represents the soul’s departure from its true home and its arrival in this world. When we feel a longing or sense of incompleteness whose cause we cannot fully explain, Mevlânâ links it to our distance from our true essence.

The ney is hollow and produces sound only when someone blows into it. According to Mevlânâ, this signifies that when a person sets aside his ego, pride, and selfishness, he makes space for the divine breath. Only then does the human being truly “speak”—that is, begin to live a meaningful life.

Mevlânâ says: The sound of the ney is not the wind, but love’s fire. What truly moves a person is not dry knowledge, but love, longing, and search. Without this love, life remains incomplete.^【3】

The ney can sometimes hurt and sometimes heal. A true word, if not spoken at the right time, may feel harsh. But for one who is ready, the same word can become a cure that transforms life.

Sema, as many know, is the spinning of the semazen. But for Mevlânâ, it is not merely a performance or dance. Sema symbolizes the human being’s alignment with the greater cosmic order.

• The right hand facing upward and the left hand downward: It means “We receive from the Divine and give to humanity.”
• The ney played during the ceremony recalls resurrection.
• Removing the cloak symbolizes shedding the old self and being reborn with new awareness.

According to Mevlânâ, the human being is like a mirror reflecting the beauty of God. Many of the things we seek are already within us. But the rush of daily life, our fears, and our greed cloud this mirror.

Mevlânâ says: Through love, a person can wipe away this dust and begin to see the truth within himself. The true journey is not outward, but inward.^【4】

Mevlânâ’s symbols remind us of this:

Human beings are not here merely to eat and drink, but to find themselves. The ney’s lament, the spin of the sema, the animal symbols…

All whisper the same thing:

Remember your origin. Know yourself. Transform through love.

The reason Mevlânâ is still read so widely today is precisely this: because what he describes is the story of us all.