This stunning collection showcases the love poetry and mystical teachings at the heart of the
Islamic tradition in accurate and poetic original translations At a time when the association
of Islam with violence dominates headlines this beautiful collection offers us a chance to see
a radically different face of the Islamic tradition. It traces a soaring poetic popular
tradition that celebrates love for both humanity and the Divine as the ultimate path leading
humanity back to God. Safi brings together for the first time the passages of the Qur'an sought
by the Muslim sages the mystical sayings of the Prophet and the teachings of the path of
Divine love. Accurately and sensitively translated by leading scholar of Islam Omid Safi the
writings of Jalal al-Din Rumi can now be read alongside passages by Kharaqani 'Attar Hafez of
Shiraz Abu Sa'id-e Abi 'l-Khayr and other key Muslim mystics. For the millions of readers
whose lives have been touched by Rumi's poetry here is a chance to see the Arabic and Persian
traditions that produced him.
