The Letters of Jalāl al-Din al-Rūmī: Annotated Translation and Analysis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Christoph Udo Werner
• Subject Area: Islamic Studies, Arabian Studies, Semitic Studies
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 537311187

Research on Jalâl al-Dîn Rūmî’s literary legacy, his mystical worldview and his hagiographical image is well-established. However, the social and political figure of Rûmî remains largely understudied. Rūmī was not only a homo mysticus but also, in the focus of the proposed project, a homo politicus actively influencing the world around him, evident through his extensive correspondence. These letters offer valuable insights into his social, economic, political, and religious relations and networks, providing a unique perspective on his ideas and attitudes in everyday life. In this project, we aim to conduct a comprehensive study of Rûmî’s surviving correspondence. This long-awaited endeavour seeks to create a reliable and critically annotated English translation of Rûmî’s letters forming the textual basis for further in-depth analysis. Translating the entirety of the letters (maktûbât), with their highly sophisticated language and complex style, in line with the elaborate prose (inshâʾ) of his time, is crucial to further research not only on Rûmî´s correspondence, but for advancing the field of "Mawlânâ-Studies" and shedding light on the cultural and political history of late-Seljuk and Ilkhanid Anatolia. Upon establishing this philologically sound translation, the critical annotations will encompass formal aspects, manuscript variants, the letters’ formulae, typology and style. Additionally, a prosopographic analysis of the addressees and indices on terms and place names will complement this stage, enhancing our understanding of the historical context. With the textual foundation accomplished and made accessible, the second (future) phase of the project will focus on the significance of these letters in understanding Rûmî as a social and political actor. Through his letters, Rûmî appears in various roles: as a petitioner, mediator, mentor, advisor, critic, friend and father, revealing different facets of his personality and social life. We can discern the various modes, stages and developments of his interactions with both ruling elites and representatives of lower social strata, thereby illuminating how he established, solidified and utilized these relationships in diverse contexts.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants