PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CATEGORIES OF EXISTENCE AND NON-EXISTENCE IN JALALUDDIN RUMI'S MASNAVI-YI MA'NAVI

Rumi's Masnavi reinterprets existence and non-existence not as static opposites but as dynamic dimensions of spiritual experience. Existence means participation in divine reality, while non-existence signifies self-effacement (fanā'), potentiality, and openness to the Divine, not absolute nothingness. Through allegory and metaphor, Rumi transforms philosophical abstractions into ethical principles guiding spiritual perfection. A qualitative, hermeneutical, and comparative analysis of key Masnavi passages, in dialogue with Avicennan metaphysics and Sufi thought, shows that Rumi's ontology bridges philosophy and mysticism, integrating ontological reflection with spiritual transformation.

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Abstract

This article offers a philosophical analysis of the categories of existence and non-existence as articulated in Jalaluddin Rumi’s Masnavi-yi Ma’navi, situating his thought within the broader context of Islamic metaphysics and Sufi ontology. It argues that Rumi reinterprets classical metaphysical categories not as static oppositions but as dynamic and interrelated dimensions of spiritual experience. In the Masnavi, existence is understood as participation in divine reality, while non-existence signifies not absolute nothingness but self-effacement (fanā’), potentiality, and openness to the Divine presence. Through allegory, metaphor, and narrative symbolism, Rumi transforms philosophical abstractions into ethical and spiritual principles guiding the human journey toward perfection. Employing a qualitative, hermeneutical, and comparative methodology, the study examines key passages of the Masnavi in dialogue with Islamic philosophical traditions, including Avicennan metaphysics and Sufi thought. The analysis demonstrates that Rumi’s treatment of existence and non-existence bridges philosophy and mysticism, offering an integrated worldview in which ontological reflection serves spiritual transformation. This research contributes to Rumi studies by highlighting the philosophical depth of his poetic discourse and by elucidating the enduring relevance of his metaphysical insights for contemporary discussions on being, meaning, and spiritual self-realization.