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The Lament of the Reed

This episode is an insight into one of the most quoted and studied poems in Muslim tradition, ‘The Lament of the Reed’. The essence of Rumi’s manuscript Mathnavi is contained in this poem, which describes the anguish of the reed upon being separated from the reed bed, a metaphor for the sorrow that the soul feels when separated from the Divine.

About the Chair

Saeed Khan

Saeed Khan is Senior Lecturer in Near East & Asian Studies and Global Studies at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. He is also the co-founder of the Institute for Social Policy & Understanding, and a panelist on Turning Point for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

About the Speaker

Reza Shah-Kazemi

Dr Reza Shah-Kazemi

Dr. Reza Shah-Kazemi, specializing in comparative mysticism, Islamic Studies, Sufism, and Shi’ism, is renowned for his profound insights. As the founding editor of the Islamic World Report and a Research Associate at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, his scholarly contributions are extensive. With a doctorate in Comparative Religion, he’s authored notable works like Paths to Transcendence and The Other in the Light of the One. His expertise extends to interfaith dialogue and Persian translations.