The Feats of the Knowers of God: (Manaqeb Al-'Arefin)

This is a 14th-century biography of the famous Persian mystic poet and 'Knower of God', Jalal al-Din-e Rumi, in the form of a large compendium of Sufi-style teaching stories. It was commissioned by a grandson about fifty years after Rumi's death. The author-compiler, Aflaki, includes chapters on Baha'-e Valad (Rumi's father), Shams al-Din-e Tabrizi (Rumi's great love), Solt?an Valad and Amir 'Aref (Rumi's son and grandson), and other transmitters of the spiritual Heritage of the Mowlavi dervish order. The protagonists are portrayed as performing miracles and confronting critics and rivals. Circumstantial detail abounds, thus providing one of our few windows onto social and political life during the Saljuq and Mongol period in Asia Minor. The translation has an extensive index of persons and concepts to assist readers and students.