Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes: Being an Account of the Sufi Order Known As the Mevlevis and Its Founder the Poet and Mystic Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi

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Summary: Title says all
Review: There is no shortage of books on Rumi and his poetry. I highly recommend books written by Prof. Annemarie Schimmel on Rumi and his great mystical poetry which is deeply rooted in Islamic mystical tradition. Friedlander deserves special thanks on making accessible to the reader the day-to-day life of Mevlevi dervishes. Photographs of Whirling dervishes are very appealing and appropriately placed throughout this book. This book also provides a short walk through the historical development of Mevlevi order through centuries. Various practices and forms that the Mevlevi order has taken and described in this book makes Rumi's figure more holistic, real, and accessible for any Western reader.

There is also an implied view in this book for the one who want to "know" and "see" on the diversity and variety of views within Islamic tradition. Sufism is one of the main mystical traditions within Islamic currents. Mevlevi order is one of the threads in Sufism. The universality of Sufis in their practices and communication with other traditions outside Islam is an example of the actuality and essence of Islam (glimpsed in this book) which goes very contrary to what we all hear from media (which, now-a-days is exclusively focused on the negative elements of the world). We need more of these types of books (to fill the gap that exists in the popular media) on all faith based traditions of this world.