Immortal Echoes, Mortal Words

Persian Poetry: What Prose Cannot Say | Interview with Professor Rebecca Ruth Gould

In this insightful interview, I, Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani, speak with Professor Rebecca Ruth Gould, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Poetics and Global Politics at SOAS University of London, about the power of (Persian) poetry to express what cannot be said in prose or philosophy.
We explore:
What makes Persian poetry uniquely capable of articulating philosophical and mystical truths
Why Persian/Iranian thinkers historically favored poetic forms over discursive prose
Why should contemporary scholars research Persian poetic tradition
The challenges and responsibilities of translating Persian poetry into English without losing its beauty, depth, and spiritual nuance
About Professor Rebecca Ruth Gould:
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@poetry-and-protest
Rebecca Ruth Gould is an award-winning scholar, translator, and public intellectual whose work explores the intersections of poetry and politics across the Islamic world, the Caucasus, and beyond. She is the author of Erasing Palestine (Verso, 2023), The Persian Prison Poem (EUP, 2021), and Writers and Rebels (Yale UP, 2016).
Featured Projects & Links:
The Textual Materialist (Rebecca’s newsletter): https://rgould.substack.com
GlobalLIT Project Website: https://globallit.hcommons.org
GlobalLIT Intro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlf0ggZRN80
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/balaghas.bsky.social
Book: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-persian-prison-poem.html
Essays in The London Review of Books: https://www.lrb.co.uk/contributors/rebecca-ruth-gould
 
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#PersianPoetry #Sufism #Translation #PoetryAndPolitics #Rumi #Hafez #ComparativePoetics #MiddleEasternStudies #IranianLiterature #persianpoem #sufism #rumi #poetry #poem

Ep.9. Sufism (Practical Dimensions) - Ibn Arabi’s Fusus | Interview with William Rory Dickson

In this in-depth interview, I, Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani, speaks with Dr. William Rory Dickson, Associate Professor of Religion and Culture at the University of Winnipeg, Canada, about his research on Sufism, his latest book Dissolving into Being: the Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy, and the practical dimensions of sufi philosophy.
 Timeline & Questions Answered:
00:00:10 – Introduction and interview purpose
00:03:02 – Who is William Rory Dickson? His research focus on Sufism
00:07:19 – What makes Ibn ‘Arabi’s Fusus al-Hikam unique?
00:15:03 – Structure and main themes of the book: Dissolving into Being
00:20:27 – How do Sufis interpret Idris and Elijah as one figure?
00:33:10 – Is Sufism theoretical or practical? (Ibn ‘Arabi & Ibn Rushd's iconic meeting)
00:44:44 – The role and limits of reason in sufi thought
01:05:23 – What does fana, self-annihilation, in sufism mean?
01:08:54 – What does it mean to embody God’s Names?
01:11:34 – Love as the heart of the sufi path – healing and fulfillment
01:28:03 – Closing reflections on adab, compassion, and practical Sufism
Featured Book: William Rory Dickson, 2024, Dissolving into Being: the Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy. https://www.amazon.com/Dissolving-into-Being-Wisdom-Philosophy/dp/1905937776
 
 My latest book: Sarayān: The Real’s Permeation: Ibn ʿArabi on the Divine Presence in the Cosmos with Neoplatonic Insights (available in both digital and print formats): https://immortalechoes.org/pages/our-press
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses
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Watch more from our Ibn Arabi Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HG0qkYvbH9dyTAWnncKZGLp&si=sCNGBNjB7RRRIZat
My recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
 
#Sufism #IbnArabi #Metaphysics #FususAlHikam #IslamicMysticism #Spirituality #IslamicMetaphysics #practical_mysticism #love

Sufism, Reform, and Modern Islam: Interview with Professor Oliver Scharbrodt (Lund University)

What happens to Sufism when Muslim societies modernize? In this interview, I host Professor Oliver Scharbrodt to explore the transformation of Sufism from the premodern to the modern period, the place of reformist thinkers, and the complex relationship between Sufism, modernity, and political activism. 🎙 Host: Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
About the Guest: Oliver Scharbrodt, Professor of Islamic Studies, Lund University. Specialist in Sufism, Islamic modernity, and intellectual history. Author of numerous works on Sufi authority, reform, and Muslim intellectual traditions.
Key themes in this interview:
How Sufism changed from premodern to modern contexts – Whether Sufism was actually marginalized or productively reinvented
How major reformers like Jamal al-Din Asadabadi (al-Afghani) and Muhammad ‘Abduh drew on Sufi thought
The distinction between tasawwuf (Sufism) and ‘irfān (gnosticism, mysticism, mystical philosophy)
Neo-Sufi organizational models in modern activism
The importance of ethical self-cultivation, spiritual discipline, and walāya
Why scholars must rethink the simplistic “Sufism vs Reform” dichotomy
Recommended Works by Prof. Scharbrodt 
Scharbrodt, Oliver. 2022. Muhammad 'Abduh: Modern Islam and the Culture of Ambiguity: https://portal.research.lu.se/en/publications/muhammad-abduh-modern-islam-and-the-culture-of-ambiguity/
Scharbrodt, Oliver. 2020. Anti-Sufism in Early Qajar Iran: Āqā Muḥammad ‘Alī Bihbahānī (1732–1801) and His Risāla-yi khayrātiyya: https://www.cmes.lu.se/oliver-scharbrodt/publication/75aaf880-e655-4bdc-a39e-fd32242de3d6
Scharbrodt, Oliver. 2010. The Qutb as Special Representative of the Hidden Imam: The Conflation of Sufi and Shi‘i Concepts https://portal.research.lu.se/en/publications/the-qutb-as-special-representative-of-the-hidden-imam-the-conflat/
Scharbrodt, Oliver. 2007. The Salafiyya and Sufism: Muhammad 'Abduh and his Risālat al-Wāridāt (Treatise on Mystical Inspirations) https://portal.research.lu.se/en/publications/the-salafiyya-and-sufism-muhammad-abduh-and-his-ris%C4%81lat-al-w%C4%81rid%C4%81/
Prof. Scharbrodt’s Recommendation:
Most Comprehensive Modern Study of Sufism:
Sirriyeh, Elizabeth, 1998. Sufis and Anti-Sufis: The Defence, Rethinking and Rejection of Sufism in the Modern World: https://www.routledge.com/Sufis-and-Anti-Sufis-The-Defence-Rethinking-and-Rejection-of-Sufism-in-the-Modern-World/Sirriyeh/p/book/9780700710607
Books for Rethinking Orientalist Lenses & Understanding Islam’s Ambiguity
Ahmed, Shahab. 2015. What Is Islam? The Importance of Being Islamic: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691164182/what-is-islam?srsltid=AfmBOorzhRRZHf0lJqV9eFyW1QCQELQHmH16lY1QSb_7oSdoc6xpefti
Bauer, Thomas. 2021. A Culture of Ambiguity: An Alternative History of Islam: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/a-culture-of-ambiguity/9780231553322/
 
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
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#Sufism #IslamicStudies #ModernIslam #IslamicReform #Tasawwuf #Irfan #Mysticism #IslamicPhilosophy #ibnarabi

"Why ʿAṭṭār Still Matters" | Interview with Prof. Claudia Yaghoobi

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Professor Claudia Yaghoobi (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), as she discusses the enduring relevance of ʿAṭṭār, the Persian Sufi poet, and mystic. In this interview, we explore:
Timeline:
00:00 - 01:29 - Intro: Who is Professor Claudia Yaghoobi?
05:08 - Q1: Why ʿAṭṭār? What sets him apart from other Persian mystics like Rumi or Hafez?
22:26 - Q2: Why is social engagement important in Sufism? Against monastic isolation
27:25 - Q3: How does Attar link love and knowledge in mysticism? (ʿIshq and Maʿrifa)
30:32 - Q4: How has ʿAṭṭār’s legacy been received in Iran and the West today?
32:44 - Q5: What role do storytelling and allegory play in ʿAṭṭār’s work?
46:42 - Q6: How does ʿAṭṭār speak to today’s seekers across boundaries and identities?
52:54 - Bonus Q: Is there still space for new research on The Conference of the Birds?
📚 Mentioned Book: Subjectivity in ʿAṭṭār, Persian Sufism, and European Mysticism by Prof. Claudia Yaghoobi
 
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
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#Attar #PersianSufism #Mysticism #ClaudiaYaghoobi #ConferenceOfTheBirds #PersianPoetry #SpiritualAwakening #PhilosophyAndLiterature #SufiPoetry #LoveAndKnowledge

Ep.6. Mystical Supplication: "The Whispered Prayer of Gnostics" (Munajat al-Arifin)

Host: Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
Co-host: Reyhaneh Davoodi-Kahaki
Consultant: Mohammad Davoodi
Music: Amirmohammad Monjezi https://www.youtube.com/@amirmohamdmonjezi
🌙 In this episode of the Shi‘i Mysticism Podcast, we explore one of the most beautiful, elegant, and profound supplications in Shi‘i spirituality: Munājāt al-ʿĀrifīn, “The Whispered Prayer of the Knowers of God.” This intimate prayer, written by Imam Zayn al-Abidin a.s. (Imam Sajjad, the fourth Shii Imam), blends theology, gnosis (irfan), and Islamic spirituality into a living path of inner transformation. The whispered prayer teaches that the true path to divine knowledge begins with humility before God’s Essence, recognizing the poverty of human intellect before the Infinite. It then invites the seeker into divine love, ethical purification, and spiritual nearness, painting a vision of hearts set aflame with longing and souls illuminated by the light of God.
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
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Watch more from Shi'i Mysticism Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HFFxjOWCPTZXunQ6B_xzBz6&si=kx-T_U38A6wnOQfw
Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
 
#ShiismExplained #Irfan #MullaSadra #IslamicMysticism #ImamAliWisdom

Ep.7. Shahriar’s Longing & Lament for Imam al-Mahdi | Shi‘i Mysticism Podcast

Host: Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
Co-host: Reyhaneh Davoodi-Kahaki
Consultant: Mohammad Davoodi
Music: https://www.youtube.com/@amirmohamdmonjezi
How can mystical poetry awaken us to the deeper dimensions of love, patience, and hope? In this episode of the Shi'i Mysticism Podcast, we explain the moving verses of Shahriar, whose poetry expresses both longing and devotion toward the Perfect Human (insan al-kamil): Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.). This poem, recited in its original Farsi and followed by in-depth English commentary, captures the essence of Persian mystical poetry, Islamic mysticism (irfan), sufism, and Shi‘i eschatology. Shahriar’s lament is not simply about absence; it is a profound meditation on union, separation, covenant, and the spiritual bond that transcends time and suffering. The imagery of roses, nightingales, thorns, and moonlight becomes a language of love, patience, and surrender to divine wisdom. His verses embody the paradox of mystical love—where pain becomes a sustaining force, guiding the soul closer to truth. 
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
Guiding questions:
How does Shahriar’s vision of longing and absence reflect your own experiences of waiting or spiritual yearning?
What does it mean to love without seeking cure or comfort, as Shahriar suggests?
Can pain become a spiritual teacher, and if so, how?
How does Shahriar’s covenantal language with the Perfect Human invite us to think about promises, memory, and faith?
How can poetry serve as a vessel of hope during times of hiddenness or absence?
 
#MysticalPoetry #Sufism #SpiritualWisdom #PoetryExplained #persianpoetry #shiism #shii__thought

Ep.5. Fayd's Qasida: The Forbidden Tree and the Fall of Adam | Shi‘i Mysticism Podcast

Host: Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
Co-host: Reyhaneh Davoodi-Kahaki
Consultant: Mohammad Davoodi
Music: https://www.youtube.com/@amirmohamdmonjezi
Why was Adam forbidden from the Tree of Knowledge? In Shi‘i Mysticism, the story of Adam’s fall is not simply about sin or disobedience, but about humanity’s longing for divine knowledge. This episode explores Fayd Kashani's Poetic Theo-Mystical Anthropology, uncovering how the Fall represents humanity’s yearning for the hidden wisdom of the Ahl al-Bayt. Through classical Shi‘i texts, mystical commentary, and Persian poetry, we uncover how the Prophet and Imams' theology of light, Islamic esotericism, and Fayḍ’s vision of the Tree of Knowledge reveal profound truths about:
Human limitation and divine hierarchy
Intercession (tawassul) and the names of the Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt
The symbolic meaning of exile and return to God
Knowledge as both a danger and a path to salvation
 
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations 
Watch more from Shi'i Mysticism Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HFFxjOWCPTZXunQ6B_xzBz6&si=kx-T_U38A6wnOQfw
Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
Guiding Questions:
How do you understand the concept of divine light in Shi‘i mysticism?
In what ways can Imam ʿAli’s teachings transform our perception of the self?
What role does suffering play in spiritual purification according to Shi‘i thought?
How do esoteric interpretations challenge or enrich your view of religion?
What insights did you gain about your soul’s journey from this episode?
#ShiismExplained #Irfan #Shiism #IslamicMysticism #Imamology

Ep.4. The Pre-Creational Realities of the 14 Infallibles | Fayd’s Qasida | Shi'i Mysticism Podcast

Host: Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
Co-host & Recitation: Reihaneh Davoodi-Kahaki
Consultant: Mohammad Davoodi
Music: https://www.youtube.com/@amirmohamdmonjezi
In this episode of the Shi'i Mysticism Podcast, I explore a powerful qasida poem by the renowned Safavid-era mystic philosopher Fayd Kashani, dedicated to the Fourteen Infallibles. This mystical poem unveils the pre-creational realities of the Prophet Muhammad, Imam Ali, and the Ahl al-Bayt—celestial lights who existed before the material world. Fayd illustrates an emotive poetic narrative on how these divine lights were the first to glorify God, setting in motion a cosmic chain of praise joined by prophets, saints, and angels in a meta-cosmic symphony. The poem reflects on the Muhammadan Light as the first created reality, followed by the Light of Imam Ali, and then the rest of the holy family. As the poem transitions to the creation of the material world, the first physical body formed is Adam—the beginning of the human journey shaped by these divine archetypes. This episode delves deep into Shi'i cosmology, theo-mystical symbolism, and the rich poetic tradition of Fayd.
🔻Guiding Questions:
What is the significance of the Muhammadan Light as the first created reality in Shi'i cosmology?
How does Fayz Kashani’s qasida portray the pre-creational existence of the Fourteen Infallibles?
How are prophets, saints, and angels integrated into this celestial chain of praise according to Fayz’s vision?
In what ways does this poem use mystical language to bridge theology, metaphysics, and poetic emotion?
Watch related videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HFFxjOWCPTZXunQ6B_xzBz6&si=Wg_zcnxozswx_kEx
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
Watch more from Shi'i Mysticism Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HFFxjOWCPTZXunQ6B_xzBz6&si=kx-T_U38A6wnOQfw
Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
 
#Shiism #FaydKashani #IslamicMysticism #AhlalBayt #Qasida #PersianPoetry #MuhammadanLight #ShiiteTheology #mysticalPoetry

Shams Tabrizi's Nature | The Parable of Hen & Duckling | Discourse 10 from Shams' Maqālāt

Host: Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
Recitation: Reyhaneh Davoodi-Kahaki
Consultant: Mohammad Davoodi 
Music: https://www.youtube.com/@amirmohamdmonjezi
What happens when a soul born of the sea is trapped in the dryness of the barnyard? In this the Persian Mystical Poetry Podcast, I explore a profound parable from Shams Tabrizi’s Discourses (Maqālāt)—the story of the duckling raised among chickens. This discourse conveys a mystical message: true seekers are drawn to divine depth, even when raised in shallow or worldly environments. Shams challenges us to recognize the difference between real spiritual longing and mere imitation. This tale calls us to return to our elemental truth, to leave the comfort of convention and enter the ocean of love and divine knowledge.
🔻 Guiding Questions:
Have you ever felt out of place in the world—like a duckling among hens?
What does this parable teach us about spiritual authenticity versus social conditioning?
How can we discern whether our inner pull originates from a divine source or egoic desire?
What role does the environment play in awakening or suppressing the soul’s true calling?
What does “the sea” symbolize for you in your personal spiritual journey?
 
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
 
#ShamsTabrizi #PersianPoetry #Sufism #SpiritualAwakening #MysticalWisdom

Shams Tabrizi's Discourses (Maqalat) Explained | His Mystical Wisdom, Education, & Identity

Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
Reyhaneh Davoodi-Kahaki
Music: https://www.youtube.com/@amirmohamdmonjezi
How does Shams Tabrizi unveil the path to divine truth? In this episode of the Persian Mystical Poetry Podcast, I examine Shams's Discourses (Maqālāt), exploring his complex identity beyond the common labels of "dervish" or "illiterate."
🔹In this video, I explore the following questions:
Was Shams Tabrizi a learned individual or simply an uneducated dervish?
How do we come to know him? Is it solely through Rumi's poetry?
What insights do his Discourses provide about his thoughts, education, personality, and relationship with Rumi?
Do his Discourses confirm or challenge the prevailing mainstream perceptions about him?
⭐ This episode is part of a video series I host: Shams Tabrizi’s Discourses (Maqālāt): https://immortalechoes.org/pages/seasonal-offline-video-courses 
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
My recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
Guiding questions:
How does Shams challenge the authority of formal religious knowledge in his Discourses?
What role does paradox play in Shams’s teaching style?
Is your perspective toward Shams the same after watching this video?
Which idea from this episode moved you the most—and why?
#ShamsTabrizi #Shams_Tabrizi #shams #Discourses #Maqalat #Rumi #Persianpoetry