About The Book

Rumi and His Friends: Stories of the Lovers of God, Excerpts from the Manaqib al-Arifin of Aflaki selected and translated by Camille Adams Helminski and Susan Blaylock, relates anecdotes of the life of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, his father and sons, wife and daughter, and his relationship with Shams of Tabriz and with other close companions and disciples.

The original text was written in Persian by Ahmad Aflaki, a devoted student of the grandson of Rumi and is based on the oral traditions of the early days of the founding of the Mevlevi Order. The selections included in this volume are also teaching stories that illuminate the way of the dervish. Spiritual seekers can benefit from this glimpse into the spiritual community surrounding Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi and the wisdom that is conveyed through those interactions.

Many selections also include beautiful illuminative passages from his poetry, and, in this volume, each selection is titled to assist in orienting the reader and enhancing comprehension of meaning. Rumi and His Friends welcomes us into the world of Rumi— through this volume we come to understand what life was like for Rumi and gain inspiration for the illumination of our own.