In the modern era, Rumi has experienced a massive resurgence in popularity, particularly in the United States and Europe. Translations by figures like Coleman Barks have turned Rumi into a "bestselling poet," though scholars often note that these popular versions sometimes strip away the specific Islamic context of his work. Despite this "New Age" reframing, the core of Rumi’s message—the transformative power of love and the importance of inner mindfulness—continues to provide an antidote to the materialism and fragmentation of contemporary life. People turn to Rumi today for the same reason they did 800 years ago: to find meaning in suffering.
