The Masnavi (Selection)
The Masnavi (Selection)
Sufi teaching stories on longing, love, and the soul's return.
About this book
This selection from Rumi's Masnavi offers stories, parables, jokes, and flashes of mystical teaching. Rumi moves through love, ego, loss, discipline, divine presence, and the soul's homesickness for its source. The poems rarely proceed in straight lines; they circle, interrupt, and surprise, because their aim is not explanation alone but awakening.
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- IN THE NAME OF GOD,599 words
This chapter opens with a timeless lament from the reed-flute, a symbol of longing and separation. Its melody speaks of love's pain and the soul's yearning for reunion, setting the stage for a journey into the heart of mystical devotion.
- I3618 words
A prince, smitten with a handmaiden, faces her mysterious illness. He prays fervently, and a heaven-sent physician arrives. The doctor diagnoses a hidden cause, setting the stage for a tale of love and fate.
- II1455 words
This chapter explores the story of the Oilman and the Parrot, a tale that reveals deeper truths about perception and reality. It challenges us to look beyond appearances and recognize the hidden differences that define true value.
- III, Part 14805 words
In this chapter, a Jewish king's persecution of Christians sets the stage for a cunning plot by his vizier. The vizier's feigned conversion and self-mutilation aim to infiltrate and undermine the Christian community from within.
- III, Part 23952 words
The Vizier's final scheme unfolds as he withdraws into solitude, leaving his followers in anguish. His disciples plead for his return, but he insists on seclusion, claiming divine communion.
- IV3306 words
In this chapter, we encounter a second Jewish king whose persecution of Christians escalates to a dramatic test of faith. A mother and child face a fiery idol, revealing deeper truths about love, sacrifice, and the nature of divine power.
- V, Part 14768 words
The beasts propose a pact to end the lion's terror, but a debate erupts over trust in God versus using means. A hare steps forward with a plan that challenges both sides.
- V, Part 24840 words
The soul, void of patency, is introduced through a meditation on light and color, then a hare's cunning tale unfolds. The lion's rage and the hare's plea set the stage for a lesson in perception and justice.
- V, Part 3451 words
In this chapter, the beasts gather to celebrate the hare's victory over the lion. Their joy is unrestrained as they praise the hare and demand a full account of his triumph. The hare responds with a lesson on humility and divine will.
- VI3464 words
Having conquered the external foe, the soul now turns inward to face a subtler enemy. The greater warfare is waged not with sword but with spirit, as the story of Umar and Caesar's ambassador illustrates.
- VII, Part 14878 words
In this chapter, the tale of the merchant and his parrot unfolds, revealing deep truths about love, longing, and the power of words. The narrative weaves between the literal story and its spiritual meanings, inviting reflection on the nature of connection and sacrifice.
- VII, Part 22335 words
In this chapter, the merchant's encounter with his parrot unveils a profound lesson on freedom and pretense. As the story unfolds, deeper reflections on flattery, pride, and spiritual transformation emerge, inviting the reader to consider the true cost of attachment.
- VIII, Part 14816 words
This chapter explores the nature of divine song and the power of saintly voices to revive dead souls. Through the tale of an aging minstrel, we are invited to consider the source of true inspiration.
- VIII, Part 22557 words
Umar's vision and the harper's tale reveal the hidden worth in repentance. The chapter warns against blind faith and reason, urging a deeper surrender.
- IX, Part 14854 words
This chapter explores the tension between poverty and contentment through a dialogue between a poor Arab and his wife. Her complaints clash with his spiritual resolve, setting the stage for a deeper reflection on pride, faith, and human need.
- IX, Part 24720 words
In this chapter, ancient debates about the cosmos give way to a deeper inquiry into spiritual attraction and repulsion. Through parables and dialogues, the relationship between the soul and the flesh is explored, setting the stage for a transformative encounter.
- IX, Part 34371 words
This chapter explores the journey of an Arab man carrying a pot of water to Baghdad, symbolizing the finite seeking the infinite. Through his tale, the narrative unfolds themes of love, poverty, and the contrast between worldly knowledge and divine wisdom.
- X1556 words
This chapter explores the essential role of a spiritual teacher, emphasizing patience and perseverance. Through metaphor and a vivid tale, it illustrates the challenges of surrendering to guidance.
- XI2803 words
In this chapter, a lion tests a wolf and a fox by asking them to divide the prey. The story unfolds as each animal reveals its true nature through its response.
- XII1605 words
Joseph meets an old friend and asks what gift he has brought. The friend's answer reveals a deeper truth about self-knowledge and the role of imperfection in recognizing beauty.
- XIII3857 words
This chapter explores the story of a scribe who mistook divine inspiration for his own genius, and the spiritual dangers of pride and presumption. It warns against confusing borrowed light with true illumination.
- XIV1470 words
In this chapter, the poet contrasts worldly knowledge with divine wisdom, using the parable of Chinese and Roman artists to illustrate the power of inner purification.
- XV4537 words
In this chapter, Zeyd claims to see the spiritual fates of all souls, prompting a deep dialogue with the Prophet about veiling and revealing truth. The tension between divine knowledge and human discretion sets the stage for a profound exploration of faith and humility.
- XVI, Part 14798 words
In this chapter, we witness the profound forbearance of Ali, who drops his sword after an enemy spits in his face. The encounter unfolds into a dialogue on divine love and the nature of true strength, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of spiritual surrender.
- XVI, Part 2729 words
In this chapter, we explore how perception shapes belief through vivid metaphors-from tinted spectacles to clouds of dust. The narrative challenges us to examine the lenses through which we view truth and others.
- XVII337 words
This chapter reflects on the fragility of thought and the danger of mistaking material for spiritual nourishment. It warns against consuming lifeless doctrines that wound rather than sustain, urging patience until divine clarity returns.
- IN THE NAME OF GOD,599 words
- IN THE NAME OF GOD,154 words
Chapter 1 opens with a sacred invocation and the reed-flute's lament, a metaphor for the soul's separation from its divine source. The passage sets the stage for a journey of longing and love.
- I841 words
Chapter 2 opens with a tale of a prince whose joy is shadowed by a maiden's illness. Doctors fail, and the prince turns to prayer. A mysterious figure appears, hinting at deeper tests ahead.
- II324 words
This chapter explores the difference between appearance and reality through the tale of a parrot. It warns against judging by outward forms and invites reflection on inner truth.
- III, Part 11053 words
Chapter 4 explores the cunning of a Jewish king and his vizier who plot against Christians, revealing how hatred distorts vision and leads to deception.
- III, Part 2822 words
This chapter explores how a Vizier's schemes unravel through divine intervention, revealing the fragility of human deceit. It sets the stage for a tale of manipulation, faith, and the power of true guidance.
- IV622 words
Chapter 6 examines a second Jewish king's persecution of Christians, introducing a miracle that challenges the nature of fire and faith.
- V, Part 11036 words
In this chapter, a debate unfolds between a lion and beasts over trusting God versus using effort. Through tales and arguments, the balance between faith and action is explored.
- V, Part 21082 words
This chapter explores the soul's isolation and the nature of perception through light and darkness. A tale of a lion and a hare illustrates how pride and blindness lead to downfall.
- V, Part 3100 words
In this chapter, the beasts gather to honor the hare who slew the lion. Their celebration reveals deeper truths about humility and divine grace.
- VI798 words
This chapter contrasts outer conquest with the greater inner battle against fleshly lusts. Through the tale of Caesar's ambassador meeting Caliph Umar, it explores spiritual transformation and the nature of divine compulsion.
- VII, Part 11114 words
This chapter opens with a merchant's journey to Hind, carrying a message from a caged parrot to its wild kin. The tale weaves themes of longing, sacrifice, and the soul's yearning for the divine.
- VII, Part 2495 words
This chapter explores the high toll of beauty and the torments of love, using the story of a merchant and a parrot to illustrate deeper spiritual truths about surrender and divine grace.
- VIII, Part 11097 words
Chapter 13 opens with a minstrel whose harp once moved the spheres, exploring how saints and prophets breathe life into souls. The chapter weaves parables of spiritual awakening, contrasting divine wisdom with worldly decay.
- VIII, Part 2550 words
This chapter explores the limits of blind faith and reason, then shares a story of redemption. A heavenly message guides Caliph Umar to a repentant harper, revealing deeper truths about contrition and surrender.
- IX, Part 11096 words
In this chapter, a destitute couple's bitter quarrel reveals the depths of human despair and the struggle for contentment. Their harsh words echo timeless wisdom on poverty, pride, and divine providence.
- IX, Part 21094 words
Chapter 16 explores the nature of divine love and human obstinacy through parables and philosophical reflections. The sky as an eggshell, the prophet Salih's camel, and the hidden sea beneath grass invite contemplation.
- IX, Part 3997 words
This chapter explores the journey of an Arab man to Baghdad, where a simple water-pot becomes a vessel for profound spiritual lessons. The narrative weaves tales of love, poverty, and the pursuit of essence over form.
- X347 words
This chapter explores the essential role of a Teacher on the spiritual path. It warns against traveling without guidance and emphasizes patience and obedience.
- XI665 words
A lion, wolf, and fox go hunting together, setting the stage for a test of humility and submission. The lion observes their hearts, knowing how greed and self-assertion will be revealed.
- XII375 words
Joseph's story unfolds through a mirror-a symbol of self-reflection. This chapter explores how contrast reveals truth and how the soul is refined through hardship.
- XIII881 words
This chapter explores the story of the Prophet's first scribe and the dangers of pride and misguidance. It warns against literal interpretation and the arrogance that leads to downfall.
- XIV338 words
This chapter contrasts worldly pursuits with spiritual wisdom through the story of a drunken man and a contest between Chinese and Roman artists.
- XV1016 words
This chapter explores the nature of divine inspiration and the hidden forces that guide perception. It contrasts human limitation with spiritual insight, using metaphors of light and darkness to frame the tension between visible and unseen truths.
- XVI, Part 11088 words
This chapter explores the spiritual depth of Ali's forbearance and the transformative power of divine forgiveness. It contrasts human judgment with God's mercy, inviting reflection on the nature of true strength.
- XVI, Part 2191 words
This chapter explores how perception shapes belief, using the metaphor of colored spectacles to reveal the power of perspective in spiritual understanding.
- XVII83 words
This chapter contrasts material and spiritual nourishment, urging a patient trust in divine purification. It warns against hardening the living word into mere substance.
- IN THE NAME OF GOD,154 words
- The Nature of Divine Providence and Human Effort1107 words
This chapter explores the interplay between divine providence and human effort through tales of love, deception, and faith. As we begin, consider how trust in God and the use of outward means together shape our journey.
- The Inner Struggle and Spiritual Transformation1270 words
Chapter 2 shifts the battlefield inward, where the fleshly lust is a fiercer foe than any external enemy. Through the story of an ambassador's encounter with Caliph Umar, we explore how divine power alone can transform the soul.
- Abandoning Selfhood Before the Divine1057 words
This chapter explores the painful stripping away of selfhood required on the spiritual path, using stories of an Arab couple, a prophet's camel, and a lion's judgment to illustrate surrender.
- Generosity and the Path to God1033 words
Generosity is not just giving; it is a mirror that reflects the divine. This chapter explores how self-purification and forbearance lead the soul to God, using stories of Joseph, Ali, and others to illustrate the path.
- The Nature of Divine Providence and Human Effort1107 words
Related works
Methodological kin
- Mishkat al-Anwar
Rumi's poëtische mystiek krijgt filosofische verwantschap naast Mishkat al-Anwar: beiden zoeken taal voor zien voorbij het zichtbare.
Cultural pair
- Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Rumi zoekt overgave en liefde; Khayyam antwoordt op vergankelijkheid met twijfel, ironie en het heden. Samen tonen ze twee Perzische registers.