Who is the former minister mentioned in the article?

The former minister is Craig Fentor, who later adopted the name Ismail after converting to Islam.

What inspired the former minister to move to Turkey?

He was inspired by the poetry of the 13th-century Persian poet, Rumi, particularly his writings on divine love and the soul's journey.

What is Ismail currently working on in Konya, Turkey?

Ismail, formerly Craig Fentor, is working on a new English translation of Rumi's famous work, the Masnavi-yi Maʿnavi.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Ex-Minister Finds God in Rumi's Poetry

Ex-Minister Finds God in Rumi's Poetry

24 Mar

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Summary

Former minister left California for Turkey inspired by Rumi.
He embraced Islam and became a whirling dervish in Konya.
He is translating Rumi's famous Masnavi into English.

A former Christian minister's life took a profound spiritual turn after encountering the poetry of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi. Craig Fentor, a former minister from California, found himself deeply moved by Rumi's writings on divine love and the soul's journey.

This encounter inspired Fentor to leave his home and begin a new life in Konya, Turkey, a significant pilgrimage site for Rumi's followers. There, he embraced Islam, adopted the name Ismail, and became a whirling dervish, joining the Mevleni order.

Ismail is now dedicating his life to a significant literary undertaking: translating Rumi's renowned Masnavi-yi Maʿnavi into English. This extensive work consists of 25,000 rhyming couplets. Ismail considers this translation his calling, with the blessing of Rumi's direct descendants.

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