Before he was a poet, Jalal al-Din Rumi was a preeminent Islamic scholar. Born in 1207, he and his family fled the Mongol invasion, traveling nearly 4,000 kilometers to Konya in modern-day Turkey. During the journey, the famed poet Attar met the young Rumi and predicted his future spiritual greatness. In Konya, Rumi’s father was a renowned theologian. After his father’s death, Rumi took his place at age 24, building a large following as a mainstream religious authority. By his mid-thirties, he was a pillar of the religious establishment, a respected jurist and teacher whose life was orderly, prosperous, and secure. But that life was about to be overturned by a stranger at a city caravanserai.
Rumi
The 13th-century scholar turned mystic poet after meeting a wandering dervish, and whose Islamic faith is often erased in popular translation.
Chapter 1
The Scholar of Konya
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Shams of Tabriz?
Shams was an older, wandering mystic who met Rumi in Konya in 1244. Their intense spiritual bond transformed Rumi from a traditional scholar into an ecstatic poet. Shams disappeared permanently in 1248, an event so devastating it prompted Rumi to begin composing his great works of poetry.
What is a 'Whirling Dervish'?
This refers to a member of the Mevlevi Order, a Sufi group founded on Rumi's teachings. They practice a meditative whirling dance called the 'Sema,' which Rumi formalized. The dance symbolizes the soul's spiritual journey toward truth and union with God, receiving divine grace and bestowing it on the world.
Why are some Rumi translations controversial?
Popular English versions, notably by Coleman Barks, are criticized for removing Rumi's specific Islamic context. Barks, who doesn't read Persian, created 'renderings' from older translations, replacing Islamic terms with generic spiritual concepts. Scholars argue this erases a core part of Rumi's identity as a devout Muslim scholar whose work is deeply rooted in the Quran.
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