The Rumi Panel at UC Berkeley was organized by the Pacifica Institute on the 2nd of November, Friday evening from 6 to 9.

Reception started at 6 pm and at 6:30 pm more than 100 participants of the panel were invited to take their seats at the Wurster Hall Auditorium. The first speaker was Scott Alexandar, the director of Catholic Muslim Studies at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago and he explained the audience the true meaning of Sufism and from which source it was directly inspired. He also related how Rumi developed his message of respect and tolerance during his life time. Then one of Rumi’s poem was read and the reed flute was blown followed by a 15 minute coffee break. Then by the master of ceremonies, Nahid Angha who is the Co-director of the International Association of Sufism and the founder of International Sufi Women Organization was invited and she stressed the importance of the scholars who is able to translate the works of Rumi. These scholars she pointed out should be well versed with both of the languages they are translating to and from and be familiar with the terminology of the poems of Rumi. Otherwise wrong translations can be made she added. Then Zeki Saritoprak, the Chair of Islamic Studies at John Carroll University , Cleveland related to the audience that he asked himself if Rumi were present as the speaker what he would talk about during the panel which Zeki Saritoprak found the answer of Divine Love. He talked at length what Divine Love meant in the sight of Rumi. Finally he finished with a couplet from Rumi which translates into “ I am the servant of Quran and a dust at the foot of the Prophet” Then the MC invited the three speakers for the Q & A when three scholars answered each of the questions. The program came to an end at 9 pm