Selections from The Mathnawi

Course Overview

This course introduces the Mathnawi and discusses selections from the work. The Mathnawi is an important Sufi text which written in Persian by Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi who is commonly known as Rumi. The course covers the life, background, and standing of the author, as well as contemporary and current interpretations of the text. Notable lessons and teachings from the text are highlighted in the course, such as tawakkul and the frailty of life. The course also further expands on the potency and importance of salah.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand the importance and recurring themes of The Mathnawi
• Appreciate the life and times of Jalal al-Din Rumi, and his background
• Explain the lessons and interpretations of various selections of the work
• Distinguish between the Mathnawi and other classes of text (e.g. the Quran / ahadith)
• Demonstrate a profound understanding of tawakkul
• Understand Sufism and its position within Islam