Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition

Dr. Omid Safi will highlight his new book, Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition (Yale University Press, 2018). The collection brings together sayings from the Qur'an, Hadith and Hadith Qudsi, the poetry of Rumi, Sa'di, Hafez, and stories from 'Attar, Abu Sa'id-e Abi 'l-Khayr, Kharaqani, Sulami, and others. Dr. Safi hopes Radical Love anthologizes Sufi poetry in a way that is both faithful to the original and poetic in translation.

Omid Safi is the Director of the Duke Islamic Studies Center, and a professor of Iranian studies in the AMES department. He specializes in the study of Islamic mysticism and contemporary Islam and frequently writes on liberationist traditions of Dr. King, Malcolm X, and is committed to spiritual traditions that link together love and justice. Omid was recently invited to speak at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel as part of the 50th annual commemoration for Dr. King. Omid is among the most frequently sought out speakers on Islam in popular media, appearing in The New York Times, Newsweek, Washington Post, PBS, NPR, NBC, CNN, and other international media. He leads a summer program focused on diverse religious traditions in Turkey and Morocco, called Illuminated Tours.

This presentation is sponsored by the John Hope Franklin Center and the Duke Islamic Studies Center. A light lunch will be served. Parking is available in nearby Trent Rd. and Erwin Rd. parking decks.