Tuesdays, August 11th - September 22nd
8:00 - 9:15 PM ET

Journey into the Masnavi, the masterpiece once called “the Qur’an in Persian,” and learn how scholars interpret its stories, teachings, and layers of meaning across centuries of tradition.

How did Jalal al-Din Rumi, a 13th century Muslim jurist and Sufi teacher, become one of the best-selling poets in modern America? In this Guided Reading, students will explore the first volume of the Masnavi Ma’navi (“Spiritual Couplets”), one of the most celebrated works in the history of Islamic mysticism. Along the way, we’ll examine Rumi’s historical and religious context, the symbolism woven throughout his stories and poetry, and the ways modern translations have reshaped his image for contemporary audiences.

Whether you know Rumi through scholarship, social media quotes, or a love of mystical poetry, this course offers the chance to read the Masnavi closely while exploring why its teachings on love, longing, ego, and the spiritual path continue to resonate today.

About Dr. Patrick J. D'Silva:

Patrick J. D'Silva is a scholar of Islam specializing in Persian Sufism. He received his PhD in Religious Studies from UNC Chapel Hill in 2018, and has since taught at several universities in Colorado. His publications focus on Muslim engagement with Yoga in South Asia and Persian during the medieval and early modern periods.

He is a co-author (with Carl Ernst) of Breathtaking Revelations: The Science of Breath From the Fifty Kamarupa Verses to Hazrat Inayat Khan (Suluk Press, 2024). He is also an expert on the intersection of religion and race in contemporary science fiction, and has published related essays with The Revealer and Reactor. You can follow him on Substack at Worlds Beyond Worlds.

About the Religion Department:

Coming soon from Religion for Breakfast, the Religion Department is an online school where anyone can learn from leading scholars of religion. Click below to be the first to hear about upcoming classes and events.