Remembering ?Umar Khayy?m

This book explores the Persian sage ?Umar Khayy?m and the globally renowned quatrains (rub??iyy?t) attributed to him from a new angle. These quatrains have unleashed responses from Sufis and Islamic theologians, fostering secular thought in the Persianate world. From the early 12th century to the present, ?Umar Khayy?m's persona has been a source of inspiration for various literate communities. This monograph addresses an undesirable gap in Khayy?m scholarship by re-examining the reception of his quatrains within a changing collective memory. It investigates a wide range of texts and objects, including Sufi texts, chronicles, mystical poetry anthologies, memorial monuments, Victorian illustrations, and modern periodicals. The focus is on how the remembrance of Khayy?m has contributed to the formation of a secular intellectual tradition in modern Iran. The book argues for a re-conceptualisation of Khayy?m as a nexus of Sufi literature, memory, and secularity. Additionally, it critically examines traditional scholarship on Khayy?m's biography and the debates regarding the authenticity of his quatrains. This work aims to connect scholars of Sufism Studies, memory studies, and Persian and Islamic Studies.