Discourses of Rumi

still is today in some parts of the world. Also,Rumi makes numerable references to the Koranand quotes from it frequently. Since Rumi’s listenersknew the Koran well, such quotes werefamiliar and personal brush strokes. However, tomany readers of this book this will not be so.Therefore, I have removed a few quotes thatcould prove confusing to those who do not knowthe Koran, or might disturb the direction ofRumi’s message.Rumi’s reference to God is always deeply personal.Whether he uses the masculine term“Allah,” or refers to God as “The Beloved,” it isnearness and closeness to God that Rumi isexpressing. Unfortunately, the English languagehas no personal, neutral pronoun for God. Toalways use “He” in referring to God, to mankind,or to any general person, was common practicewhen Arberry released his edition, but seems toomasculine today. In Rumi’s Persian language,“God” has no gender, and Rumi’s symbolic portrayalof God uses images of the Lover, and theOcean, as often as the King. Therefore, I haveused “It” to refer to God in places, to help risex