Description
Book SynopsisJalal al-Din Rumi (1207-73), founder of the Mevlevi Sufi order of Whirling Dervishes," is the best-selling poet in America today. The wide-ranging appeal of his work is such that UNESCO declared 2007 to be International Rumi Year." However, his writings represent much more than love poetry. Rumi was one of the preeminent thinkers of Sufism, the esoteric form of Islam. In this groundbreaking collection of 13 essays on Rumi, many of the world's leading authorities in the field of Islamic Studies and Persian Literature discuss the major religious themes in his poetry and teachings. In addition to discussing the ideas of love, ecstasy, and music in Rumi's Sufi poetry, the essays offer new historical and theological perspectives on his work. The immortality of the soul, freewill, the nature of punishment and reward, and the relationship of Islam to Christianity are all covered, in order to bring Rumi's poetry properly into the context of the Sufi tradition to which he belonged.
Trade ReviewThe message of Rumi serves as a beacon of light to dispel the shadows which prevent modern man from seeing even his own image in its true form, and from knowing who he really is." -- Seyyed Hossein Nasr, The George Washington University, author of Sufi Essays and The Heart of Islam Jalaluddin Rumi, better known simply as Rumi, was perhaps the finest Persian poet of all time and a great influence on Muslim writing and culture. His poetry is still well known throughout the modern world, and he is one of the best selling poets in America." BBC The phenomenal interest in Rumi begins with the fact that in the West today we are spiritually starved... We're reaching out for more and [Rumi] persuades us that there is an alternate reality that transcends, exceeds, and surpasses in every way this mundane mode of existence." -- Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions
