Dear friends, I greet all of you. In this first writing I want to dwell upon some terms for explaining them and correct some misunderstanding about them.
 As you know, since this year is 800. Rumi Anniversary year, first of all it is necessary to dwell upon “Mevlana” term. The most known meaning of that term –since it is traditionaly used  at the front of the name of Djalal-ad-din  Rumi- reminds him. Neverthless “Mevlana” means “our master” in Arabic language. “Mevla” means “master” in Arabic, “-na” personal pronoun means “our”, by adding it, we get “Mevlana= oun master” term.
 If we examine “Mevla” word in Arabic grammar, it is the deverbal noun of “veliye” word. “veliye” means “He menaged, he took the menagement” and “veli” means “mlan who loves” and also “beloved.”
 For example “mezheb” (religional doctrine) term means either “the way” or “going towards the aim.” “Veli” term means in Arabic grammar “a person who menages or directs” so it is the subject of “velayet” the term which means “to administer or menage.”
 In sufizm, “velayet” means being close to Allah and being friends with Allah.
 Mevlana (our master) term had been used before the important religional persons as a term means respect. For example Mevlana mubarek Shakh, Mevlana Lutfi, Mevlana Djalal-ad-din…And also it is used for adressing a person. For example “Mevlana, how are you?” (How are you our master?)
 “-na” syllable in “Mevlana” term is not in connection with “-na” affix in Persian grammar. In Persian grammar this affix comes to the begining of the word and it gives a negative meaning. For example:Na
Malum (Unknown), namevcud (Nonexist).
 At last I want to explain “Na’t-ı Mevlana”. Naat is a literature and musical term which means the poems and music Works that our Prophet is praised and it is sung in mosques and dervish convents. One of the most important naat is “Na’t- Mevlana” (Our master’s praising), it is traditionaly performed at the begining of the sema rituals. It had been written by Mevlana Djalal-ad-din Rumi, at the latest verse he had used “Shems-i Tebrizi” as his penname, he had used that penname  in his poems. That naat had been composed  by Mustafa Itri, in “rast” musical mode. Na’t-ı Mevlana is sung by “Naathan” as solo at the begining of the sema rituals. But some people think that Mevlana Djalal-ad-din is being praised in this naat, this mistake comes from the mistaken thought about “Mevlana” term; they suppose that “Mevlana” term is used only for Mevlana Djalal-ad-din Rumi, but this is not true; we use “Mevlana” term  for Mevlana Djalal-ad-din Rumi as a respect term.
 With love and respect…

                                                      MEHMET NURİ UYGUN