Learn Persian with Rumi on a spiritual and educational journey through his most famous work. This unique course for absolute beginners focuses on the first eighteen verses of the Masnavi—the “Neynāmeh”—offering a slow and joyful path to discovering the depths of both the language and its literature.
In this twelve-week journey, we will slowly and deeply—like a snail—explore each verse, understanding profound concepts of separation, love, pain, and spiritual growth from Rumi’s perspective.
What Will You Learn in This Course?
This course has three primary goals:
- Learn the Persian Alphabet: Become familiar with the fundamentals of the Persian script and language.
- Practice Reading Persian Poetry: Gain the skills to fluently read classic Persian poems.
- Understand Rumi’s Thoughts: Achieve a deep understanding of the philosophy and worldview of one of the world’s greatest poets.
Key Course Features:
- Suitable for Everyone: This course has no prerequisites and is designed for all enthusiasts, regardless of their prior knowledge.
- Flexible Learning: Each week focuses on a single word, phrase, or couplet, so you can join us at any time without worrying about falling behind.
- Expert Instructor: The course is taught by Dr. Leila Seyedghasem, who holds a PhD in Persian Language and Literature from the University of Tehran, has authored several textbooks, and is the co-founder of “Joy of Persian.” Her deep expertise in classical poetry will provide you with an unparalleled experience.
Join us to experience the joy of learning Persian through the timeless poetry of Rumi and take a journey into the rich world of mystical Iranian literature.
A Journey Through the Neynāmeh
The 18 Verses You Will Master
The Neynameh, or “The Song of the Reed,” represents the first 18 verses of Rumi’s monumental epic, the Masnavi. These foundational lines are considered the key to the entire six-volume work, encapsulating the core themes of spiritual longing, the pain of separation from the Divine, and the soul’s timeless journey back to its origin.
In this course, we delve deep into each word of these verses. Below is the full text you will learn to read, understand, and appreciate in its original Persian alongside its English translation.
A tale of all the separations of which it complains.
از جدایی‌ها شکایت می‌کند
Men and women bemoaned my lament.
از نفیرم مرد و زن نالیده‌اند
So as to utter the description of the pain of longing.
تا بگویم شرح درد اشتیاق
Seeks to return to the days of his union.
باز جوید روزگارِ وصل خویش
Consorting with the joyous and the sorrowful.
جفت بدحالان و خوش‌حالان شدم
No one sought the secrets from within me.
از درون من نجُست اسرار من
Yet, eye and ear do not possess that light.
لیک چشم و گوش را آن نور نیست
Yet, none has the license to see the soul.
لیک کس را دیدِ جان دستور نیست
Whoso does not possess this fire may he be naught.
هر که این آتش ندارد نیست باد
‘Tis the fervent desire of Love that entered the wine.
جوشش عشق است کاندر میْ فتاد
Its strains have rent asunder our veils.
پرده‌هااَش پرده‌های ما درید
Who has ever seen a consort and a longing lover like the reed?
همچو نی دمساز و مشتاقی که دید
it tells the tales of Majnun’s passionate love.
قصّه‌های عشقِ مجنون می‌کند
For the tongue has no client save the ear.
مر زبان را مُشتری جز گوش نیست
The days have become fellow travelers of burning grief.
روزها با سوزها همراه شد
Do Thou remain, O Thou like whom there is no one pure.
تو بمان ای آنک چون تو پاک نیست
Whoever has no daily bread, his day becomes long.
هرکه بی روزیست روزش دیر شد
Hence brief my words must be. Farewell.
پس سخن کوتاه باید والسّلام
Note: Text based on Reynold A. Nicholson Edition. Verses translated by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, from “The Lament of the Reed: Rumi”. Verse 13 translation is omitted in Nasr’s version and has been supplemented from Reynold A. Nicholson’s translation.
By the end of this course, these verses will be more than just words on a page. You will grasp their grammatical nuances, understand their cultural context, and feel the profound spiritual message woven into the fabric of the Persian language. This is your opportunity to connect with Rumi’s work in a way that translations alone cannot provide.
Syllabus
A Gift to Our Community 🎁
Thanks to the generous support of the DhunAnand Foundation, this course is completely free until September 30, 2026, with the discount code “RUMI-FREE-DA-JOP“.
Our mission at Joy of Persian is to make learning the language accessible to all. If you would like to support this goal and help us create more free courses in the future, please consider making a donation.
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