Rumi’s Daughter: Book Review

Muriel Maufroy has masterfully crafted the transformations in Kimya's life. A Christian by birth, she became the daughter of a renowned Muslim saint and philosopher of her time, Mawlana Jalal-ud-Din Rumi. From a young age, Kimya was a curious girl with a strong inclination towards mystical paths. This restlessness led her to the ocean of mysticism, where she found nourishment and companionship.

In her village, her father, Christopher, recognized her unique personality. He advised her parents to take her to Konya and enrolled her in a church where she could study religion. However, fate had other plans for her.

During her life in the village, she explored her deep love for mysticism through a mystic who had come from Konya. This mystic had abandoned his life in the city to seek meditation and solitude in the distant mountains. Along with her sister, she brought food, and through their interactions, she learned different languages and gained answers to her many questions. He spoke to her about the great saint Rumi, sharing his knowledge and the glory he had experienced in Konya. Kimya often dreamed of her future in Konya and eagerly discussed these dreams with him.

Several significant events unfolded during her time in the village. One of the most impactful was her father’s illness; he refused to acknowledge Christopher's insights about Kimya’s potential. However, when her mother discovered the truth about her husband's condition, she persuaded him to take Kimya to the city.

Once in Konya, Kimya went to the church but was not enrolled. Her destiny was not meant for a church; instead, it was destined for the house of Rumi. She eventually met Rumi, who adopted her as his daughter. In this new environment, she immersed herself in the ocean of knowledge and greatness she had always dreamed of.

Not only did Kimya receive Rumi's blessings, but she also had the good fortune of marrying Shams Tabraz, whom Rumi introduced as his brother, close companion, and best friend. At just fourteen years old, Kimya married Shams. The marriage transitioned her life into a new and transformative world. It is said that after Kimya passed away a year or two later, Shams Tabraz mysteriously disappeared from Konya and was never seen again.