Rumi’s Daughter: Book Review

Muriel Maufroy has beautifully architected the transformations in Kimya's life. She was a Christian and became the daughter of a great Muslim saint and philosopher of her time (Mawlana Jalal-ud-Rumi). She was a curious girl. She has leaned towards the mystical paths since her childhood. Her restlessness brought her to the ocean of mysticism, where she was nurtured and accompanied by it. In her childhood, Christopher acknowledged her personality. He informed her parents to take her to the city of Konya and admitted her to a Church where she learned religious studies. Fate has other plans for her.  

In her life in the village, she explored her innate love for mysticism with a mystic who came from Konya. He had abandoned his life in Konya and started living in far-flung mountains for meditation and seclusion. She, along with her sister, took food to him. Through the mystic, she learned different languages and answers to her questions. He also talked with her about the great saint Rumi, his knowledge, and glory in the city of Konya. She dreamed of her life in Konya often and discussed it with him.

In the village, she had interesting events. The foremost was her father’s illness; her father refused to acknowledge the truth that Christopher told him about Kimya. He told him to take Kimya to Konya, where she could learn religious studies. When her mother knew the truth about his illness, she persuaded his husband to take her to the city.

She reached Konya. She went to the Church but didn't get enrolled. Her life was not planned for a Church; rather, it was designed for the house of Rumi. She met Rumi, who adopted her, and she became Rumi's daughter. She found herself in the ocean of knowledge and greatness that she had dreamed of in her childhood. 

Kimya was not only bestowed with the Rumi but she was fortunate to marry Shams Tabraz, whom Rumi introduced as his brother and great companion and best friend. Kimya, at the age of fourteen, married Shams, and her life had been transformed into a new world. It said that when she died after a year or two, Sham Tabraz disappeared from Konya and never seemed again. 

Muriel Maufroy