Full course description
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the philosophical and mystical teachings of Rumi, the renowned 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, and theologian, with a particular focus on the insights and perspectives presented by Professor Gholamreza Aavani in his book Rumi: A Philosophical Study. Through a comprehensive analysis of Rumi's poetry and philosophical works, students will gain a profound understanding of his perspectives on love, devotion, unity, and the path to spiritual awakening, as interpreted and elucidated by Professor Aavani. The course also examines the influence of Rumi's philosophy, on subsequent generations and its relevance in contemporary thought.
Lesson Breakdown
Lesson 1 Glorification of Beings
Lesson 2 The Human Reality
Lesson 3 The Human Being (continued)
Lesson 4 The Human Spirit and the Animal Spirit
The Human Heart
Rumi and Divine Love
Lesson 5 Rumi and Divine Love (continued)
The Meaning and Reality of Love
God as Absolute Love
Phenomenal Love
Cosmic Love
Who is a Lover?
The Friends of God
Respect and Reverence for the Friends of God
The Friends of God, the Knowers of Divine Mysteries
The Friends of God, Like Water, Purify what is Impure
Lesson 6 Medical Physicians and Spiritual Physicians
The Spiritual Master
Lesson 7 Universal Reason, Intellect, and Knowledge in Rumi’s Thought
Reason and Faith
Different Levels and Kinds of Intellect in Rumi’s Thought
Some Moral Virtues in the Mathnawi
The Reward of Our Actions
Always Tell the Truth
One Should Guard One’s Tongue
Generosity and Magnanimity
Spiritual Self-Exertion
Spiritual Companionship
The Dangers of Bad Friends
The Advisability of Taking and Giving Counsel
Lesson 8 True Meaning and Outward Form
Hours of Study
13 hours
Assessment Method
Commentary exercise (100%)
Course Instructor
Professor Gholamreza Aavani (Lecturer)
Gholamreza Aavani is an Iranian philosopher and emeritus professor of philosophy at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. A former head of the Institute for Research in Philosophy, Aavani is a member of the Academy of Sciences of Iran and a steering committee Member of the International Federation of Philosophical Societies. He has also served as the Kenan Rifai Distinguished Professor of Islamic Studies at Beijing University, China, and as a research fellow at Al-Mahdi Institute.
Professor Ali Fanaei (Tutor)
Professor Ali Fanaei completed seventeen years of study in the seminary of Qom. During this time, he also completed an MA in Islamic Theology at the University of Qom. He then went on to complete and MPhil and a PhD the epistemic justification of moral beliefs at the University of Sheffield. At Al-Mahdi Institute, he is a Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies and is also a Professor of Philosophy at Mofid University in Qom. Professor Fanaei is also a prominent public intellectual in Iran and has written widely on topics pertaining to ethics, philosophy, theology, and jurisprudence.