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Media Kit
There are now countless books of Rumi’s poetry available in English translation, and he has become one of America’s favorite poets. There are, however, almost no authoritative books readily available for the general reader that provide in clear and accessible language an introduction to the underlying spiritual perspective illuminating Rumi’s magical poetry. In this beautifully illustrated work, William C. Chittick, a leading scholar of Sufism and Rumi, opens doors that give us access to the inner sanctum of Rumi’s thought. It is one thing to appreciate the intoxicating words of Rumi’s poetry — it is another thing to try to understand the incredibly profound ideas behind them. This book is an excellent starting point in that very rewarding quest.
The foreword is by noted scholar, educator, and writer on Islam and Sufism, Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
Awards
- Book of the Year Award Bronze Medal for “Religion”
- Silver Midwest Book Award for “Religion/Philosophy”
About the Author(s)
William Chittick
William C. Chittick is one of the most important contemporary translators and interpreters of Islamic mystical texts and poetry. He is a professor in the Department of Comparative Studies at the State University of New York, Stony Brook. Among his publications are The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi (1983), The Psalms of Islam (1988), The Self-Disclosure of God: Principles of Ibn al-`Arabî's Cosmology (1998), Sufism: A Short Introduction (2000), and The Heart of Islamic Philosophy: The Quest for Self-Knowledge in the Teachings of Afdal al-Dîn Kâshânî (2001). World Wisdom titles featuring Dr. Chittick:
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Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Seyyed Hossein Nasr (b. 1933) is University Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University. The author of over thirty books and three hundred articles, he is one of the world’s most respected writers and speakers on Islam, its arts and sciences, and its traditional mystical path, Sufism.
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Reviews
- With every part of every page resplendent with Islamic calligraphies, tapestries and evocative paintings, The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi … embodies the magnificence, coherence, and immense beauty of which Rumi was a living candle.
Banyen Books and Sound
- This study of Dr. Chittick has the great merit… of approaching the subject [of Rûmî’s metaphysical doctrines] from a strictly traditional point of view untainted by the modernistic fallacies which have colored most of the other studies devoted so far to this subject in Western languages.…[Rûmî ] remains to this day a strong living influence in Persian and Turkish cultures and is now becoming a source of spiritual nourishment for seekers the world over. May the message of Rûmî serve 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 (from the foreword), scholar, educator, and author of many books on Islam and Sufism, including The Heart of Islam : Enduring Values for Humanity and Rumi and the Sufi tradition
- The immense popularity of Rumi’s poetry in 21st century America shows that his message is one which transcends both time and space. William Chittick addresses with admirable succinctness the fundamental themes of this message, both in its own terms, and with continuous reference to the school of sophia perennis. The result is a deeply satisfying discourse on Rumi’s poetry from a point of view that is faithful to the universality of its essential content.
Reza Shah-Kazemi, scholar and author on Islam and Sufism
- The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi represents…William Chittick’s lifelong scholarly and spiritual dedication to Rumi’s work. Given its concision, clarity and focus on the essentials, this little book can also be considered as a very good and widely accessible introduction to the Sufi worldview in general. In this precious volume, the beauty of Rumi’s path and teachings is skillfully suggested by a combination of limpid quotations, cogent commentaries and exquisite illustrations, including calligraphies and miniatures.
Patrick Laude, scholar, and author of Singing the Way: Insights into Poetry & Spiritual Transformation and Frithjof Schuon: Life and Teachings (co-authored with Jean-Baptiste Aymard)
- In this beautifully illustrated work, William Chittick, a leading scholar of Sufism and Rumi, provides a clear and accessible introduction to the underlying spiritual perspective illuminating Rumi’s magical poetry.
Publishing News
- This book is recommended for its beautiful presentation and insightful content that delineates both the fundamentals of Sufi doctrine and Mawlānā Rūmi’s teachings on Sufism and Islam. It is a welcome addition to works on Rūmi being published in America today in that it rectifies many errors, simplifications and problems common in works on Rūmi and his teachings. Its handsome design also offers an alternative to other illustrated works on Rūmi that are rife with New Age connotations that severely compromise the teachings of Rūmi. The book is to be commended on its delicate balance of intellectuality, spirituality, and aesthetics, which together make a delightful combination. All in all, it is an excellent introduction to a sage whose universal message is as timely today as when it was first enunciated.
from a review in Islamic Studies (Winter, 2005)
