Translation Wars

The most popular English versions of Rumi, by Coleman Barks, are not really translations — Barks does not read Persian. He reworks scholars' literal translations into accessible free verse that emphasizes universal spiritual themes while downplaying Islamic references. Scholars like Jawid Mojaddedi and Omid Safi argue these versions turn Rumi into a New Age greeting card, stripping the theological framework that gives his poetry its precision and power. It raises a real question: is it better to reach millions with an imperfect version, or to stay faithful to the original and reach fewer readers?