MEL - Sufi Poetry Lesson

Sufi Poetry

Sufi poetry follows the ideas of Sufism and promotes the idea of communing with God and discarding all worldly ideas and thoughts. Much Sufi poetry was written as lyrics and reading for times of worship.

About the Author

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, commonly known as Rumi, was a 13^th-Century Persian Sufi mystic who wrote poems and prose. Rumi is not only famous in the Middle East among Iranians, Turks, Afghans, etc., he is also famous in countries across the world—including the United States due to his spiritual legacy. The main theme of Rumi's works is the idea of a longing and desire to restore the union with God. Rumi's poetry divides into the quatrains (rubayāt) and odes (ghazal) of the Divan, which are the six books of the Masnavi. Remember that quatrains are four line stanzas; odes are poems that express love, respect, or devotion to a person or thing. His prose words are divided into The Discourses, The Letters, and the Seven Sermons.

The Rubaiyat of Rumi (The Quatrains)

The Rubaiyat, the plural form of Ruba'i, is a collection of Persian quatrains. Remember that a quatrain is a poem with four lines. Rhyming typically occurs at the middles and ends of the lines of poetry. The rhyme scheme might be something like AABA or AAAA. However, the rhyming of Rumi's quatrains might not be recognizable due to the translation into English.

Reading Assignment: Rumi

Read a selection of poetry by Rumi. As you read, note the common themes appearing in each poem and how each poem falls under the category of Sufism. Click here to read the poetry of Rumi. Links to an external site.

The Ghazals of Rumi (The Odes)

The ghazals of Rumi, or the odes, represent a major poetic format used by Rumi. The ghazals are longer poems that can range anywhere from 10 to 40 lines long. The ghazals have an interesting format where the first half of the first line rhymes with the last half. After the first line, only the second halves of the lines rhyme. Remember that you might not see the rhyme in Rumi's odes due to the translation of the poem into English. The ghazal has the typical theme of a person seeing the face of god in everything at all times.

Reading Assignment: Ghazals of Rumi

Now, read the Ghazals of Rumi. Click here to read the Ghazals of Rumi. Links to an external site. As you read, notice similarities and differences between the rubaiyat and the ghazals.

Sufi Poetry Interactivity

Now, you will practice understanding the differences of figurative language and themes of Sufi poetry.

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