Stephanie Honchell Smith: How to love, according to Rumi

How to love, according to Rumi

According to legend, the renowned scholar Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi was giving a lecture when a disheveled man approached and asked him the meaning of his academic books. Rumi didn’t know it yet, but this question and this man would change his life. So, who was this mysterious figure, and how did he influence Rumi’s worldview? Stephanie Honchell Smith details the life of the celebrated poet. [Directed by Reza Riahi, narrated by Safia Elhillo, music by Saba Alizadeh].

Rumi’s life transformed when a mysterious Sufi mystic, Shams of Tabriz, disrupted his lecture and ignited his books, turning scholarly debate into a quest for divine love. Once a respected legal scholar, Rumi embraced Sufism, shifting from rigid study to ecstatic poetry, dance, and a vision of unity with God. His verses, inspired by love and longing, became foundational for generations of seekers across cultures. Rumi’s story reveals how personal encounters can spark a lifelong devotion that touches millions.