The Book of Rumi

105 Stories and Fables that Illumine, Delight, and Inform

This prose translation gathers 105 short teaching stories by Rumi, drawn from the heart of the six-volume Masnavi. In these compact narratives, everyday encounters become openings onto the spiritual concerns of Sufi thought.

The collection includes familiar tales such as “Angel of Death,” “Chickpeas,” and “The Greek and Chinese Painters,” alongside less frequently quoted parables including “The Basket Weaver” and “A Sackful of Pebbles.”

Rumi’s voice moves between wit and instruction, attending to ordinary lives while inviting deeper reflection. Mafi’s translations preserve the nuance of Rumi’s poetry and the affirmative tone that runs through his work.