Islamic Studies. Arts & Literature magazine interview with Alan Williams (Beshara Magazine, issue 14: Autumn/Winter 2019-20). The 13th-century poet, Jelaloddin Rumi, has been a surprising best-seller in America and Europe for many years now, his message of divine love and mystical union finding universal appeal. His masterwork is the epic poem, The Masnavi, a monumental composition in Persian of some 25,000 verses – combining stories, fables and spiritual teachings – which is regarded by many within the Islamic world as its greatest mystical text. This month sees the publication of the first two volumes of a complete new translation into English by Alan Williams, Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Religion at the University of Manchester. David Hornsby talks with him about the book and why he thinks it is so important for our contemporary world. Further information.
