Rumi — Questions and answers

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What was the name of the sacred dance Rumi guided his disciples through in 1273?

Choices

  1. A. Sema ✓
  2. B. Masnavi
  3. C. Konya
  4. D. Anatolia

Answer: A. Sema

From page 1

What forced Rumi's family to leave their home and travel across the Islamic world?

Choices

  1. A. A desire to explore new lands
  2. B. The advance of the Mongol Empire ✓
  3. C. A scholarly invitation from another city
  4. D. A search for better trade routes

Answer: B. The advance of the Mongol Empire

From page 2

Who did Rumi meet in 1244 that changed his life from academic study to a quest for divine love?

Choices

  1. A. His father, Baha-ud-Din Walad
  2. B. A new student
  3. C. Shams-i Tabrizi ✓
  4. D. The leader of Konya

Answer: C. Shams-i Tabrizi

From page 3

How did Rumi's students and other people in Konya feel about his close bond with Shams-i Tabrizi?

Choices

  1. A. They were very happy for him and joined their retreats.
  2. B. They viewed Shams with suspicion and envy. ✓
  3. C. They offered Shams a teaching position.
  4. D. They did not notice anything different.

Answer: B. They viewed Shams with suspicion and envy.

From page 4

What did Rumi do after Shams-i Tabrizi disappeared?

Choices

  1. A. He stopped writing poetry and teaching.
  2. B. He became angry and sought revenge.
  3. C. He transmuted his pain into mystical poetry and music. ✓
  4. D. He moved away from Konya to forget.

Answer: C. He transmuted his pain into mystical poetry and music.

From page 5

Who encouraged Rumi to organize his spontaneous poems into the monumental work called the Masnavi?

Choices

  1. A. Shams-i Tabrizi
  2. B. Husam al-Din Chalabi ✓
  3. C. His son, Sultan Walad
  4. D. A group of scholars

Answer: B. Husam al-Din Chalabi

From page 6

What was the name of the Sufi brotherhood formed to preserve Rumi's teachings?

Choices

  1. A. The Chalabi Society
  2. B. The Sema Brotherhood
  3. C. The Mevlevi Order ✓
  4. D. The Walad Followers

Answer: C. The Mevlevi Order

From page 7

Who attended Rumi's funeral, showing the wide impact of his teachings?

Choices

  1. A. Only his closest disciples.
  2. B. Just his family members.
  3. C. Muslims, Christians, and Jews, along with scholars, merchants, and peasants. ✓
  4. D. Only people from other cities.

Answer: C. Muslims, Christians, and Jews, along with scholars, merchants, and peasants.

From page 8

What is another name for the Mevlevi Order, known for their unique practices?

Choices

  1. A. The Singing Mystics
  2. B. The Ottoman Scholars
  3. C. The Whirling Dervishes ✓
  4. D. The Sultan's Guards

Answer: C. The Whirling Dervishes

From page 9

What does Rumi's quote, 'You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?' encourage people to do?

Choices

  1. A. To stay in one place and be safe.
  2. B. To fly like a bird.
  3. C. To transcend limitations and embrace boundless possibilities. ✓
  4. D. To learn to crawl faster.

Answer: C. To transcend limitations and embrace boundless possibilities.

From page 10