Signs of the Unseen: The Discourses of Jalaluddin Rumi 1570625328, 9781570625329
This translation of Rumi's Fihi ma Fihi should easily become the standard English edition of this important collect
296 13 5MB
English Pages 292 [286] Year 1999
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
CONTENTS
Introduction by W. M. Thackston, Jr.
The Discourses
Works Cited and Reference Works
Glossary of Persons and Terms
Recommend Papers
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SIGNS OF THE UNSEEN The Discourses of
JALALUDDIN
RUMI
Introduction & Translation by W. M. Thackston, Jr.
t
SHAMBHALA
Boston & London 1999
SHAMBHALA PUBLICATIONS, INC. Hortirultural Hall
300 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
www.sbambb..ltz.com
© I 994 by W. M. Thackston, Jr.
Published by arrangement with Threshold Books
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form
or by any means, dectronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recotding; or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in \Wiring from the publisher. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 I
Printed in the United States of America
§This edition is printed on acid-free paper
that meets the American National Standards Institute 239.48 Standatd. Distributed in the United States by Random House, Inc., and in Canada by Random House of Canada Ltd
Library of Congress Cataloging-in -Publications Data Jalil al-Diit Rllmf. Maulana, 1207-1273. [Frhi
rna fih.
EnglishJ
Signs of the unseen: the di�ourses of Jalaluddin Rumi introduction&: translation by W. M. Thackston, Jr.
/
P· em.
Originally published: Putney, VT.: Threshold Books, 1994. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN
1-57062-532--8 (pbk.)
I. Sufism--Early works to 1800.
I. Thackston, W. M. (Wheeler
Mcintosh), 1994 -
BP189.7.M42A323 297.4---dcll
1999
.
II. Tide.
99-31398 OP
CONTENTS
Introduction . .
Vll
The Discourses I Bibliography 247 Glossary of Persons and Terms 251
INTRODUCTION
Biographical Sketch 1 Mawlana Jalaluddin Muhammad, known as Rumi,2 was born in 1207 in the metropolis of Balkh, today in northern Afghanistan, long one of the greatest centers for the study, practice, and inculcation of Islamic mysticism. Jalaluddin's father, Baha'uddin Muhammad, known as Baha Valad, was one of the leading theologians, preachers, and masters of Sufism in Balkh. Through his influence the young Jalaluddin received a thorough education in the then current Arabic and Persian classical and religious studies. Special attention was given as a matter of course t