The mausoleum continues to draw pilgrims from all parts of the Muslim and non-Muslim world, mainly because, although Mevlana was a philosopher and mystic of Islam, he was not a Muslim of the orthodox type. While he was a devout Muslim, his doctrine advocates unlimited tolerance, positive reasoning, goodness, charity and awareness through love. To him and to his disciples all religions are more or less truth. Looking with the same eye on Muslim, Jew and Christian alike, his peaceful and tolerant teaching has appealed to men of all sects and creeds.

Mevlana Mausoleum was made a museum in 1927, four years after the establishment of the Turkish Republic. It is now one of the most visited museums in Turkey, attracting more than two million visitors a year.

For further information about Konya, the museum and for more images please visit these sites as well:

Turkish Ministry of Culture Konya Site

Turkish Ministry of Culture Mevlana Museum Site

Turkish Architecture in Anatolia

* Alternative spellings: Mawlana, or Mowlana, and Jalal Al-Din, or Jalaluddin