A Reflection on the Translation of Me and Rumi

Published in: Ayeneh-ye Pajoohesh (Mirror of Research), Issue 201, 2023, pp. 219–226

This article offers a close reading of the Persian translation of Me and Rumi, William C. Chittick’s acclaimed work on Shams of Tabriz. Originally published in English in 2005 and translated into Persian by Shahabeddin Abbasi in 2007, the book has since been reprinted over a dozen times and remains a key reference in contemporary Rumi studies. Chittick’s narrative, based on the edited Maqālāt-e Shams, reconstructs Shams’s voice and persona with interpretive depth. The article summarizes the book’s content, discusses the challenges and merits of its translation, and reflects on its role in shaping Persian readers’ understanding of Shams’s enigmatic character.

To access the full Persian text, click here.