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The Rumi Daybook: 365 Poems and Teachings from the Beloved Sufi Master by Kabir Helminski (27-Jan-2012) Paperback
"My heart wandered through the worldconstantly seeking after my cure,but the sweet and delicious water of lifehad to break through the granite of my heart."When the words of Rumi enter your heart, something softens, breaks, and is subtly reborn. That he wrote the words seven hundred years ago in a medieval Persian world that bears little resemblance to ours makes their uncanny resonance to us today just that much more remarkable. Here is a treasury of daily wisdom from this most beloved of all the Sufi masters—both his prose and his ecstatic poetry—that you can use to start every day for a year, or that you can dip into for inspiration any time you need to break through the granite of your heart.
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First published November 22, 2011
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About the author
Jalal ad-Din Muhammad ar-Rumi
1,170 books15.7k followersSufism inspired writings of Persian poet and mystic Jalal ad-Din Muhammad ar-Rumi; these writings express the longing of the soul for union with the divine.
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī - also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī, Mevlânâ/Mawlānā (مولانا, "our master"), Mevlevî/Mawlawī (مولوی, "my master") and more popularly simply as Rumi - was a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian and Sufi mystic who lived in Konya, a city of Ottoman Empire (Today's Turkey). His poems have been widely translated into many of the world's languages, and he has been described as the most popular poet and the best-selling poet in the United States.
His poetry has influenced Persian literature, but also Turkish, Ottoman Turkish, Azerbaijani, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu, as well as the literature of some other Turkic, Iranian, and Indo-Aryan languages including Chagatai, Pashto, and Bengali.
Due to quarrels between different dynasties in Khorāṣān, opposition to the Khwarizmid Shahs who were considered devious by his father, Bahā ud-Dīn Wālad or fear of the impending Mongol cataclysm, his father decided to migrate westwards, eventually settling in the Anatolian city Konya, where he lived most of his life, composed one of the crowning glories of Persian literature, and profoundly affected the culture of the area.
When his father died, Rumi, aged 25, inherited his position as the head of an Islamic school. One of Baha' ud-Din's students, Sayyed Burhan ud-Din Muhaqqiq Termazi, continued to train Rumi in the Shariah as well as the Tariqa, especially that of Rumi's father. For nine years, Rumi practised Sufism as a disciple of Burhan ud-Din until the latter died in 1240 or 1241. Rumi's public life then began: he became an Islamic Jurist, issuing fatwas and giving sermons in the mosques of Konya. He also served as a Molvi (Islamic teacher) and taught his adherents in the madrassa. During this period, Rumi also travelled to Damascus and is said to have spent four years there.
It was his meeting with the dervish Shams-e Tabrizi on 15 November 1244 that completely changed his life. From an accomplished teacher and jurist, Rumi was transformed into an ascetic.
On the night of 5 December 1248, as Rumi and Shams were talking, Shams was called to the back door. He went out, never to be seen again. Rumi's love for, and his bereavement at the death of, Shams found their expression in an outpouring of lyric poems, Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi. He himself went out searching for Shams and journeyed again to Damascus.
Rumi found another companion in Salaḥ ud-Din-e Zarkub, a goldsmith. After Salah ud-Din's death, Rumi's scribe and favourite student, Hussam-e Chalabi, assumed the role of Rumi's companion. Hussam implored Rumi to write more. Rumi spent the next 12 years of his life in Anatolia dictating the six volumes of this masterwork, the Masnavi, to Hussam.
In December 1273, Rumi fell ill and died on the 17th of December in Konya.
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī - also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī, Mevlânâ/Mawlānā (مولانا, "our master"), Mevlevî/Mawlawī (مولوی, "my master") and more popularly simply as Rumi - was a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian and Sufi mystic who lived in Konya, a city of Ottoman Empire (Today's Turkey). His poems have been widely translated into many of the world's languages, and he has been described as the most popular poet and the best-selling poet in the United States.
His poetry has influenced Persian literature, but also Turkish, Ottoman Turkish, Azerbaijani, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu, as well as the literature of some other Turkic, Iranian, and Indo-Aryan languages including Chagatai, Pashto, and Bengali.
Due to quarrels between different dynasties in Khorāṣān, opposition to the Khwarizmid Shahs who were considered devious by his father, Bahā ud-Dīn Wālad or fear of the impending Mongol cataclysm, his father decided to migrate westwards, eventually settling in the Anatolian city Konya, where he lived most of his life, composed one of the crowning glories of Persian literature, and profoundly affected the culture of the area.
When his father died, Rumi, aged 25, inherited his position as the head of an Islamic school. One of Baha' ud-Din's students, Sayyed Burhan ud-Din Muhaqqiq Termazi, continued to train Rumi in the Shariah as well as the Tariqa, especially that of Rumi's father. For nine years, Rumi practised Sufism as a disciple of Burhan ud-Din until the latter died in 1240 or 1241. Rumi's public life then began: he became an Islamic Jurist, issuing fatwas and giving sermons in the mosques of Konya. He also served as a Molvi (Islamic teacher) and taught his adherents in the madrassa. During this period, Rumi also travelled to Damascus and is said to have spent four years there.
It was his meeting with the dervish Shams-e Tabrizi on 15 November 1244 that completely changed his life. From an accomplished teacher and jurist, Rumi was transformed into an ascetic.
On the night of 5 December 1248, as Rumi and Shams were talking, Shams was called to the back door. He went out, never to be seen again. Rumi's love for, and his bereavement at the death of, Shams found their expression in an outpouring of lyric poems, Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi. He himself went out searching for Shams and journeyed again to Damascus.
Rumi found another companion in Salaḥ ud-Din-e Zarkub, a goldsmith. After Salah ud-Din's death, Rumi's scribe and favourite student, Hussam-e Chalabi, assumed the role of Rumi's companion. Hussam implored Rumi to write more. Rumi spent the next 12 years of his life in Anatolia dictating the six volumes of this masterwork, the Masnavi, to Hussam.
In December 1273, Rumi fell ill and died on the 17th of December in Konya.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 9, 2015
Enlightening daily poets that fulfills your spiritual contemplation. If you ever had that book you constantly read through times, this one's definitely on the top of my list.
My constant companion when i need a great insight at those lost and solitary moment
My constant companion when i need a great insight at those lost and solitary moment
February 22, 2014
Great book of the Mevlevi Teaching of living through the heart and with LOVE. Kabir Helminski makes Rumi come alive to inspire and lead us.
January 19, 2016
I've heard so much about جلال الدين الرومي but this is the first time that I've ever read some of his translated work ... I think it was meant to be a page a day but I couldn't stop honestly
February 22, 2014
A book to live by, love by. Camille and Kabir Helminski are "lovers" and by reading them you become a "lover" also. They lead you through Mevlana (Rumi) straight to God.
May 4, 2015
This was the only non-Coleman Barks translations of Rumi that I have read and actually loved just as well.
December 31, 2020
Started at the beginning and finished at the end. 365 poems and teachings for every day of the year. The only reason for this rating is that a lot of the poems I did not have the liberty of understanding. Beautifully translated. Many poems and teaching were so amazing and helped me personally particularly number 50 helped me rekindle a relationship. I really encourage this read. In all of 2020s horrors, one poem a day until the end of the year made it a lot better to handle and something to look forward to. Thank you to Rumi and the translators and the people who recommended it to me. Alhamdulillah.
May 28, 2013
Maybe I'm just a victim of our sound byte world, but I found some of the translations/interpretations here a bit unwieldy for me. Its easy to do one a day though, so if you want to get a taste for Rumi, this may be a good choice.
October 16, 2018
I'm familiar with Coleman Barks' translations. This work is gorgeous and I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm grateful to a friend to told me about the Helminski's work. Their word choice and placement of the poems is beautiful.
Read
July 27, 2022Put it down more than half way through but have no intention of picking it back up, its good but I just lost interest somehow!
June 26, 2025
Learn, Turn, and Burn
The heart is your student for love is the only way we learn.
Night has no choice but to grab the feet of daylight.
It's as if I see Your Face everywhere I turn.
It's as if Love's radiant oil never stops searching for a lamp in which to burn.
Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi: Quatrain 353 ❤️❤️❤️
The heart is your student for love is the only way we learn.
Night has no choice but to grab the feet of daylight.
It's as if I see Your Face everywhere I turn.
It's as if Love's radiant oil never stops searching for a lamp in which to burn.
Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi: Quatrain 353 ❤️❤️❤️
February 23, 2021
A spirit lifter, like honey to your soul.
Rumi's words have the power to make you return to the present while forgetting about the concept of time and feeling in another space entirely. These 365 pages, containing poems and micro stories with deep lessons by the insightful poet, are translated beautifully. Filled with sayings, exquisite metaphors, and concise yet powerful ideas, this is sure to be a great read for most.
When I started reading, I didn't know a lot about Sufism or the strong beliefs that characterize Rumi; I had just read other writings of his that seemed to have read my mind at times. Although some might be wary of its religious point of view -like I was at first- the messages are all translatable into whatever faith or spiritual connection you identify with. In my case, I replaced "God" with "love" and it all made sense. Coincidentally, Rumi was all about love, which I believe is ultimately the core of any religion.
This book is also extremely relevant in today's environment where ego, pride, anxiety, depression, and a tiresome quest for worldly matters seem to conquer our lives. In here, you can find words and lessons to calm the previously mentioned, as well as for daily nurturing of your soul.
So many favorites, but these are my top 5:
Finding Rest in the Beloved (pg. 70)
Learn, Turn, and Burn (pg. 116)
What the Heart Wants (pg. 129)
Those Who Hold You Back (pg. 224)
The Tongue Is a Curtain (pg. 362)
Rumi's words have the power to make you return to the present while forgetting about the concept of time and feeling in another space entirely. These 365 pages, containing poems and micro stories with deep lessons by the insightful poet, are translated beautifully. Filled with sayings, exquisite metaphors, and concise yet powerful ideas, this is sure to be a great read for most.
When I started reading, I didn't know a lot about Sufism or the strong beliefs that characterize Rumi; I had just read other writings of his that seemed to have read my mind at times. Although some might be wary of its religious point of view -like I was at first- the messages are all translatable into whatever faith or spiritual connection you identify with. In my case, I replaced "God" with "love" and it all made sense. Coincidentally, Rumi was all about love, which I believe is ultimately the core of any religion.
This book is also extremely relevant in today's environment where ego, pride, anxiety, depression, and a tiresome quest for worldly matters seem to conquer our lives. In here, you can find words and lessons to calm the previously mentioned, as well as for daily nurturing of your soul.
So many favorites, but these are my top 5:
Finding Rest in the Beloved (pg. 70)
Learn, Turn, and Burn (pg. 116)
What the Heart Wants (pg. 129)
Those Who Hold You Back (pg. 224)
The Tongue Is a Curtain (pg. 362)
February 26, 2019
What does one say that is befitting a master of words and prose, a man whose legacy far surpasses that of any mortal before or after him. This book contains 365 poems and teachings of Maulana Jalaludin Rumi, a sufi mystical poet of medieval times. His belief that each child of Adam is honoured by God, resonates throughout his verses. 'Consult your heart' is the advice Rumi constantly gives us throughout his verses. 'The truth is within you' is one of the many sagacious advice that the Maulana leaves us with.
One can not just read a verse by Rumi and not be moved to reflect. There is such beauty and depth in his words that transcends time, race or creed.
One can not just read a verse by Rumi and not be moved to reflect. There is such beauty and depth in his words that transcends time, race or creed.
October 22, 2014
I was thinking maybe if it was in Arabic I would have enjoyed it more?..
It's a beautiful book, as it says, of 365 poems and teachings from the beloved Sufi master, it's just.. it took me so long to finish reading it..
Some of the poems were really touching, others felt like very repetitive.. I enjoyed it at times and others just forced myself to keep reading it..
At the end, I'm not quite sure how it made me feel.. but then there's this ★★★.
It's a beautiful book, as it says, of 365 poems and teachings from the beloved Sufi master, it's just.. it took me so long to finish reading it..
Some of the poems were really touching, others felt like very repetitive.. I enjoyed it at times and others just forced myself to keep reading it..
At the end, I'm not quite sure how it made me feel.. but then there's this ★★★.
June 27, 2013
absolutely beautiful!
March 28, 2014
This is a constant companion of mine. Best to take one reading at a time, a wonderful way to relate to the readings - they just grow deeper and deeper each time you read them...
February 1, 2020
some of it is written beautifully, other poems were just boring. I think I would've enjoyed it more in Arabic
February 4, 2022
Best translation of Rumi. My favorite from him as well, so glad I came across it
April 18, 2021
4th November 2020
I've missed too many of the daily poems so I'm gonna try and re-read over the course of 2021.
I've missed too many of the daily poems so I'm gonna try and re-read over the course of 2021.
January 11, 2018
I am not rating Rumi with a 3. Definitely not. But it's about the book cillection. This is honestly not my favourite compilation of Rumi. It includes 365 of his different works mainly those from Mathnawi and Fihi ma Fihi which is great but I honestly feel that the translation used here is hard, and the chosen texts are sort of complicated. If you wish to buy a collection of Rumi, I’d suggest looking around for other books. Has anyone read the “essential Rumi” which seems to be the number one reference for this author.
April 20, 2021
An illuminating and necessary collection of the master Rumi's most poignant spiritual works. I find myself turning to it every day, especially now during Ramadan, to reaffirm my imaan. Muslims and non-Muslims alike can find spiritual nourishment within this wonderful book. I also appreciate the fact that, unlike other translators of Rumi (like Coleman Barks, for example), Helminski does not dilute or omit the central Islamic aspect and makes Rumi's identity as a Muslim mystic clear.
July 15, 2021
It was my first time reading a poetry book as well as reading Rumi, I usually read philosophy, science, etc.., but I did really enjoyed the book, it opened my eyes to another world, this book made me realize that I didn't understand the real message of religion and I have to revise my understanding, and He gave me a hope that there might be another way other than logic, philosophy, and science where you can get to know the reality.
August 24, 2025
"The night is over, my friend, but our story has not yet ended." The night and darkness of this world may pass, but the light of these words shines brighter every moment. Even so did the night of the prophets' lives pass, but the light of their words has not yet ceased-nor will it ever.
[Fihi ma Fihi: Discourse 49]
Rumi is immortal and now lives inside me till the day I die🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
[Fihi ma Fihi: Discourse 49]
Rumi is immortal and now lives inside me till the day I die🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
April 25, 2023
first of 2023. trying to get back into the groove of reading so tried this out, however my brain was switched off for most of it. i no longer mesh spiritually with a lot of Rumi’s insights so obviously didn’t like this, and will leave it at that.
March 23, 2024
I am mesmerized by Rumi's poetry. Reading his poems has opened up my heart and raised it to another level. If you want to strengthen your relationship and love of Allah/God, this is one of the books that you must read. Beautiful, much respect to Rumi and the authors for their work and translation.
June 4, 2017
I kept wishing I've picked the arabic copy of this.
July 25, 2018
Rumi's wisdom offered in an outreaching literature; read this and rejoice.
December 10, 2018
Beautiful
Some beautiful poetry and reflections on God. It's worth the read to hear from a man who clearly deeply loves God.
Some beautiful poetry and reflections on God. It's worth the read to hear from a man who clearly deeply loves God.
June 12, 2019
One of the better translations of Rumi's work. It contains 365 small excerpts allowing you to read one everyday hence enriching the experience.
July 21, 2019
A must read for anyone on the spiritual/mystic path. A monk doesn't need a monastery. A sage can know the universe from within his room.
February 10, 2020
This is a great translation from Farsi.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews