Reason in Rumi in terms of epistemology

The epistemological problems such as how and where to acquire knowledge and criterions of acquiring knowledge have been tackled from various perspectives throughout history. The epistemology of Rumi, an important figure of Islamic mysticism, is worth exploring in this sense. Different studies have been conducted regarding Rumi's criticism regarding reason, philosophers and philosophy. In this study, the ideas of Rumi on reason, love and knowledge will be elaborated with their backgrounds. With this perspective in mind, in the introduction chapter, several approaches of first age thinkers about the role of reason and knowledge, the social and political situation of the period Rumi lived in, and life and works of Rumi are mentioned briefly. In the first chapter, reason and other related concepts are elaborated under the theoretical framework and several additional remarks within this context are made. In the second chapter, epistemological opinions of several pre-Rumi, Islamic thinkers are asserted. The third chapter regard the ideas of Rumi concerning love and reason, his epistemological criticism of reason and philosophy and the place and the value of love. Rumi's perception of reason as an epistemological ability is negative. His suggestion in this sense is to replace it with love and this claim is discussed throughout the study from different aspects. Key Words: Rumi, Human, Philosophy, Metaphysics, Love, Reason, Knowledge.