I Have Come to Speak Only of Love

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī was a 13th century Persian Sunni Muslim poet, Islamic scholar, and Sufi mystic, born September 30, 1207. His ecstatic poetry has been popularized by Western translators, and in that form has made its way into many of our UU hymns, readings, and sermons. In fact, some people say that our UU scriptures are the poetry of Mary Oliver and Rumi! In keeping of our September theme of Vision, and in honor of Rumi’s birthday, we will be read his poetry and ask “Who was Rumi? What was his mystical vision? Has something of his spirit and faith been lost in translation? In this time of anti-Muslim feeling, what does it mean that we can so easily forget that Rumi was a poet writing from within the Muslim faith?”

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