Word and Silence in the Mas̱navī of Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī

Abstract

This study examines the concepts of Word and Silence in the Mas̱navī of Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī. It aims to reveal how
Rūmī conceptualizes the balance between speech and silence as complementary dimensions of spiritual and
ethical perfection in the process of human inner transformation. The study is motivated by the need to
reconsider these principles in a modern age characterized by excessive communication and diminished
contemplative depth. A qualitative, text-centered methodology is adopted. Selected couplets from the Mas̱navī
and their Turkish translations are analyzed through thematic and interpretive reading. The central research
question is as follows: How do Word and Silence function as successive pedagogical stages guiding the
individual toward Truth (ḥaqīqa) and spiritual maturity according to Rūmī? Although the study is limited to
representative passages from the Mas̱navī, it reflects Rūmī’s broader understanding of language, ethics, and
Sufi discipline. Its originality lies in interpreting Word and Silence not as opposing forces, but as sequential
modes of moral and spiritual training. The findings indicate that Word, when grounded in wisdom and
intention, serves as a means of divine inspiration and social formation, whereas Silence embodies patience,
humility, and receptivity to divine meaning. Ultimately, the study concludes that Rūmī’s emphasis on speaking
and remaining silent at the appropriate moment offers a timeless ethical principle that continues to provide
guidance for both inner peace and social harmony in the modern world.