SUPPORT IRANIANS IN THEIR PURSUIT OF FREEDOM PART II: Rumi’s Poem “Rooz o Shab”(Day and Night)
As I write this, it has been 6 weeks since the death of Mahsa Amini, which sparked what has developed into the start of a revolution in Iran. The 40th day after a death is significant in Islam, and the 40th day after Mahsa’s passing saw the biggest uprisings since her death. In these past 40 days there have been hundreds of other Iranians killed—so many that there could potentially be a forty day ritual every day.
With each passing day, the restlessness grows inside and outside of Iran. I watch the bravery of those in Iran who model courage and a commitment to freedom, autonomy and human dignity in the face of massacre, rape, torture, and also triumph that are experienced on a daily basis. It has been inspiring to see how the Iranian people’s bravery has heralded global support and recognition in 6 weeks, after 43 years of this repression.
Roads to the grave of Mahsa Amini were shut down, so people walked to the grave to recognize the 40th day after her death in Iran.
My friends and colleagues, podcaster Leyla Shams and musician Fared Shafinury, recently spoke on Leyla’s podcast, Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation, about one of Rumi's poems, Rooz ō shab. In this poem, the words “rooz,” day, and “shab,” night, are repeated like a zikr (Sufi devotional practice of absorption in the rhythmic repetition of the name of God). Even though Rumi was a 13th century Persian poet, his poems remain extremely relevant and relatable today, in large part because they were written in times of tumult and unrest.
Rumi wrote about the many iterations and manifestations of love—
such as the essence of life as love, love for oneself, love for one’s lover, and love for God.
Rumi writes:
“I surrender my heart and soul, day and night.”
He means to say that If this is the price to be a lover, then I give up my heart and soul.
This is the true price of love—whether it be celestial love, or human love, or the love of freedom.
Shahram Nazeri singing Rumi’s poem “Rooz o Shab”
بی‌قرار
در هوایت بی قرارم، بی قرارم ڕوز و شب
سر زکویت برندارم، برندارم ڕوز وشب
جان ڕوز و، جان شب، ئای جان تو
ئانتظئارم، ئانتظئارم ڕوز و شب
زان شبی که وعده کردی ڕوز وصل
ڕوز و شب ڕا می شمارم ڕوز وشب
ئای مهار عاشقان در دست تو
در میان ئاین قطئارم ڕوز شب
می زنی تو، زخمه ها، بر می ڕود
تا به گردون زیر و زارم، زیرو زارم ڕوز وشب
ڕوز و شب ڕا همچو خود، مجنون کنم
ڕوز و شب ڕا کی گذئارم، ڕوز و شب
Restless
thinking about you I am restless
I am restless day and night
I will not raise my head from your alley
I will not raise day and night
the day's life and the night's life is your life
day and night I am waiting and waiting
since the night you promised me the night of unification
day and night I am counting day and night,
oh you who controlling of lovers is in his hands
I am among this caravan day and night
thinking about you I am restless
I am restless day and night
I will not raise my head from your alley
I will not raise day and night
the day's life and the night's life is your life
day and night I am waiting and waiting
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Stay Informed
Here are a few helpful resources for staying in the know with the latest protests in Iran, compiled by Iranian American journalist Holly Dagres:
Women activists and journalists:
Mahsa Alimardani, researcher and advocate for Article19.org
Roya Boroumand, co-founder of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center
Jasmin Ramsey, deputy director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran
Azadeh Pourzand, human rights researcher and writer, and director of the Siamak Pourzand Foundation
Gissou Nia, director of the Atlantic Council Strategic Litigation Project
Golnaz Esfandiari, reporter covering Iran for Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty
Masih Alinejad, Iranian journalist and activist
Organizations:
CALL TO ACTION: How to help
There are other ways ordinary people can help such as by contacting their representatives, sharing factually correct news about what’s happening inside Iran, and participating in solidarity protests in their respective cities.
Another way to help is by donating to UK-based and international human rights organizations that focus on Iran, such as Justice for Iran, the Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), and Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). The more attention there is on Iran, the more the Islamic Republic is under pressure.