Illustrated with 45 photographs, charts, and maps; index and bibliography
Rûmî is one of the great mystics of Islam. He founded in the XIIIth century a brotherhood in the Turkish city of Konya, famous for the use of music in the context of spiritual experience. To understand Rûmî is to enter the world of Islam in its true sense: known as a “Sufi,” Rûmî is on par with the spiritual Masters of all great religious traditions. Written by Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch, a French scholar who became a believer in Islam through her works on Sufism, this book is a masterful initiation not only to Rûmî, but also to Islamic thought. It is an excellent tool for serious students of Islam as well as for the general public who wants to approach Islamic civilization with the respect and competence it requires. Clear, elegant, scholarly, and beautifully written, this book about the life and writings of one of the great poets of the world is also key to understanding the spiritual roots of Islam.
Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch
Simone Fattal
Praise for Rûmî and Sufism
This book is an excellent introduction to one of the greatest spiritual masters of all time. Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch gives a clear and scholarly exposition of his life and thought, plus a history of the subsequent development of the Mevlevi Order, and a good introduction to Sufism in general. She draws out the universality of Rumi’s thought, describing how in his lifetime he had followers from all the religions—including atheists. Containing as it does extracts from Rumi’s letters and works which are not yet available in English, this book will interest even those who already know something about Rumi.
— The New England Review of Books
Containing as it does extracts from Rumi’s letters and works which are not yet available in English, this book will interest even those who already know something about Rumi.
— Beshara Magazine
