Customer Reviews

Rumi and Islam: Selections from His Stories, Poems, and Discourses--Annotated & Explained

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Rumi has become popular in many circles but this great scholar, mystic & poet is largely unknown to most muslims themselves. His poems are an overwhelming treasure of insight and inspiration revealing depths of Islam that you would not otherwise guess were there. This book does a service in that it collects excepts from Rumi directing relating to the Prophet and other aspects of the faith, translating it in a way that is intellecually honest and true to the original.

I certainly agree with Mark Carpenter, but will add that most "translators" don't translate at all, but re-write scholarly English translations. Ibrahim Gamard has dedicated thirty years to learn the Persian of Rumi's time in order to, as accurately as possible, render Rumi's work into English. Also, many "translators, do not understand Islam or classical sufism, which runs through Rumi's poetical output. And therefore cannot portray the original message. Indeed some "translators" take out the Islam on purpose. This book beautifully portrays Rumi's love of the Prophet of Islam