Emaan’s Reviews > The Essential Rumi > Status Update

The last part of this book does not seem to have a general theme, and is mostly a random assortment of poems. Throughout reading this book, I have noticed that poems with a clear story were the ones I enjoyed, as opposed to more mystical ones that I had a hard time grasping.

One can't help but notice how many allusions and references to prophets of the Abrahamic faiths Rumi uses to tell parables and teach morals. So proper background or knowledge in this matter can be useful, as many times he makes a passing reference that will slip by if you if you don't know.

This section has more general stories and life morals. Mostly they are about keeping the nafs in check.

In this he talks about gambling what may seem like security and safety, the known, for the infinite, the unknown.

This next chapter is about the relationship Solomon had with Sheba.
Solomon represents divine wisdom, and Sheba represents the bodily
soul.

In this chapter he speaks on rough and uncouth metaphors used by Rumi that some would view as distasteful.

In this chapter Rumi talks about how the unseen world and how it works in mysterious ways and sometimes what we think is good for us is bad for us and vice versa.

Here he speaks about crying out for ones needs, even if no one hears them.
And perhaps rising above it.

In this section he speaks on intellect and reason. One poem spoke about how your body when it harms itself, stops itself, I enjoyed that.

In this section he speaks about teachers. One poem I liked was about a mouse and a horse. A mouse leads the horse by its reins. The horse doesn't stop him and finds it amusing. And then they come to the river, and the mouse realizes it can lead no longer.