Reading Rumi Instead of Quoting Rumi: Salih Daglar Brings the *Masnavi* to German Readers in a New Translation

Rumi is one of the most frequently quoted poets in the world. His words appear on social media, on postcards, and in collections of quotations. However, a significant portion of the quotes circulating today under his name cannot be traced back to his actual works. With his new book, "Rumi--Stories and Verses," Berlin-based author Salih Daglar therefore returns to the source.

The volume brings together 17 stories and 26 selected verses from the *Mesnevi* by the Persian poet and mystic Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. The work was written in the 13th century in Konya and comprises a total of more than 25,000 couplets.

Daglar follows a clear principle in his edition: No statement attributed to Rumi should appear without a verifiable source. The German translations were based on the literal English translation by the renowned Rumi scholar Reynold A. Nicholson and cross-checked against the original Persian text. The respective passages can be traced in the *Mesnevi* using the book and verse numbers provided.

The focus is on some of Rumi's best-known and most timeless stories. An elephant stands in a dark house and is felt by several people--each believes the part they touch to be the whole. Four men argue over different words and fail to realize that they are all referring to the same grape. A lion discovers his reflection in a well, mistakes it for an enemy, and pounces on it. A learned grammarian mocks a boatman until the boat is caught in a whirlpool, and suddenly a completely different skill determines life or death.

The stories deal with perception and error, love and separation, arrogance, insight, longing, and the difficulty humans face in recognizing themselves. Daglar deliberately refrains from providing each story with a ready-made moral. The texts are intended to retain their original open-ended nature and give the reader room for their own interpretation.

For the author, the book also represents a personal return to Rumi. Daglar was born in Istanbul in 1984 and grew up immersed in his family's religious and cultural traditions. His grandmother played a special role. When he was five years old, she planned a trip to Konya. Daglar desperately wanted to go with her and tried to stay awake all night so she wouldn't be able to leave without him. He fell asleep nonetheless. When he woke up the next morning, his grandmother was already gone.

Nearly four decades later, he recognized in this childhood memory a connection to the famous opening lines of the Mesnevi: the reed that laments because it has been cut from the reed bed and separated from its source. In the book, Daglar therefore writes: "This book is a tribute to my grandmother."

"Rumi--Stories and Verses" is not intended to be a complete edition of the Mesnevi, but rather a concise introduction to Rumi's thought and storytelling. The book is aimed at readers who wish to get to know Rumi beyond modern collections of quotations and want to know which texts can actually be traced back to his work.

The book was published on September 11, 2026, by BoD - Books on Demand. ISBN: 978-3-6967-3131-1.

Further information:
https://artbeatfeastverse.com/

Directly from the publisher:
https://buchshop.bod.de/rumi-salih-daglar-9783696731311

On Amazon:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/3696731315

Artbeatfeastverse
Storkowerstr. 139B
Berlin 10407
Germany

https://artbeatfeastverse.com/salihdaglar/

Herr Salih Daglar
03036746895

kontakt@salihdaglar.de

Salih Daglar, born in Istanbul in 1984, is an author living in Berlin. In his books, he explores literature, philosophy, human perception, and the question of how historical ideas continue to influence the present. In "Rumi - Stories and Verses," he focuses on the original stories and verses from Rumi's *Masnavi*, placing particular emphasis on verifiable sources and a clear, modern German translation.

This release was published on openPR.