President hails Shams, Rumi for guiding humanity toward peace, dialogue
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday commemorated the towering Sufi figures Shams Tabrizi and Jalal al-Din Rumi, describing them as “two peaks of Iranian culture” whose legacy continues to illuminate human history.
In a message issued for the national observance of Shams Tabrizi and Rumi on September 29 and 30, respectively, Pezeshkian said Iran, drawing on such profound cultural Tomb of Rumi, could play a central role in building a world free from violence and rich in peace, dialogue, and cooperation, president.ir reported.
The president’s address outlined a vision for a renewed discourse inspired by the two mystics. Pezeshkian wrote that their teachings offer a path “centered on love, justice, spirituality, and wisdom,” a dialogue he described as vital not only for Iran and its neighbors but for “all free peoples.”
He portrayed the commemoration as an opportunity to reflect on the enduring heritage left by Shams and Rumi, which, he said, transcends national and cultural boundaries.
Highlighting the historical and geographical reach of the two thinkers, Pezeshkian traced their influence from Balkh to Konya, from Tabriz to Kabul, from Tehran to Istanbul, and extending to the Balkans, Europe, and the Americas.
He noted that countless individuals continue to engage with Rumi’s poetry and Shams’ spiritual insights, “shedding tears of joy and dedicating their hearts to the pure waters of love and knowledge.”
For the president, this cross-border admiration exemplifies a cultural legacy that promotes unity over division, dialogue over discord, and humanity over enmity.
Pezeshkian described Shams as a relentless seeker of truth, whose penetrating insight and impassioned speech “brought Rumi to an inner revolution and opened new horizons before him.”
Rumi, in turn, “a singular star of literature and mysticism,” spread a flame of love and knowledge that continues to inspire generations. The president portrayed them as two facets of the same universal truth, guiding humanity beyond superficial divisions to the “boundless sky of love and unity.”
In the context of contemporary global crises, Pezeshkian emphasized the urgent relevance of Shams and Rumi’s philosophy. He argued that the world, facing conflict and multiple forms of violence, must return to the “pure sources” of wisdom that these mystics embodied.
Their emphasis on human dignity, spiritual enlightenment, and mutual respect, he wrote, provides a clear roadmap for constructing a future dominated by empathy and understanding rather than hostility and separation.
The president called on the Iranian people to embody the principles of love, courage, and spiritual insight exemplified by Shams and Rumi in everyday life.
“If the contemporary individual, from any nation or region, applies even a fraction of Rumi’s love and Shams’ courage,” he said, “a new world can emerge—one where borders and distances dissolve before the truth of love.”
He also praised the efforts of scholars, cultural officials, and organizers of the commemoration, noting that their dedication ensures that the legacy of these two figures remains alive and continues to strengthen cultural identity and international friendship.
Pezeshkian reiterated that Shams Tabrizi and Rumi are enduring “peaks of Iranian culture” whose teachings, once used to illuminate the human soul in their own time, can continue to light the way for future generations.
He expressed hope that, inspired by these luminaries, Iran can contribute to a global dialogue grounded in compassion, reason, and coexistence, where “empathy surpasses mere shared language” and humanity is united in the pursuit of peace.