Masnavi

Masnavi, also spelled Mathnavi, is a form of Persian poetry composed in rhyming couplets. The name derives from the Persian Arabic term mathnawī, meaning arranged in pairs, and the form is used for long narrative and didactic poems in Persian literature and across the Persianate world.

The best known masnavi is the Masnavi-ye Ma'navi (also transliterated Masnavi-i Ma'navi) by Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207–1273). Written in Konya in the 13th century and compiled after Rumi’s death by his followers, it is regarded as one of the most important works of Persian literature and Sufi thought. The poem is divided into six books and consists of thousands of rhymed couplets that weave stories, dialogues, and discourses to illustrate spiritual truths and the soul’s journey toward the divine.

Style and themes: The Masnavi blends narrative anecdote, allegory, and exhortation. Its central themes include divine love, the annihilation of the ego (fana), unity with God, and ethical virtues. The poetry is known for its accessible voice, rich imagery, and capacity to teach through parable rather than direct instruction.

Influence: The Masnavi has shaped Sufi practice and Persian, Turkish, and South Asian literature. It has been translated into many languages, with English versions helping to popularize Rumi in the West. Critics note the challenges of translating such a text, where idiom and wordplay carry multiple layers of meaning.

The term masnavi also refers generically to other masnavi poems by various poets.