A Secret History of Mothers: Mother’s Day Book Reading w/ Pir Zia Inayat Khan
Ruhani Cafe, Brooklyn, New York
May 10, 2026, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm ET
Join us for a book reading, signing and refreshments at Ruhani Cafe, an oasis tucked away in the heart of Brooklyn.
Through the lens of mothers in his new book Tears from the Mother of the Sun, Pir Zia will explore a shift from seeing cultures and religions that are not one’s own as suspicious “others” toward an approach to the global community premised on motherly/familial love. All are welcome regardless of gender, age or experience of/with mothering!
Chai and refreshments are included in the ticket price and will be provided by Ruhani Cafe.
Books: Tears from the Mother of the Sun
In this globe-spanning chronicle, Pir Zia presents an astonishing sequence of legends revealing connections between ancient cultures and spiritual lineages. Written as a novella interspersed with metered quatrains, in the tradition of medieval Persian belles-lettres, readers will learn of the creation of the universe, the war of the angels and the jinns, the exile of Adam and Eve, and the deeds of Melchizedek and Enoch. They will also explore the rise of the Nephilim, the advent of ancient civilizations, the origins of the Abrahamic faiths, and the history of the Grail and Emerald Tablet. The cumulative effect of the traditions synthesized here is a re-sacralization of the human experience across time, space, and cultures, achieved through an unexpected marriage of myth and history. Beautiful paintings by Amruta Patil bring the legends to life.
Guests can bring their book to be signed or reserve a copy when they RSVP to pick up upon arrival. A limited number of copies will be available at the event, as supplies last.
–> To purchase a book online: https://pirzia.org/tears-from-the-mother-of-the-sun/
Ticket Policy
This event will take place on the beautiful outdoor patio of the Ruhani Cafe, tucked away in the heart of Brooklyn. Ticket sales are final, but in the event of rain, a rain-check date will be provided.
To see other stops on the Book & Teachings Tour in New York, Washington DC, Boston MA and Berkeley CA, click here.
Speaker
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Pir Zia Inayat KhanPir Zia Inayat Khan, PhD, is a scholar of religion and teacher of Sufism in the universalist Sufi lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia is president of the Inayatiyya and founder of Sulūk Academy, a school of Sufi contemplative study and practice.
He is author of Tears from the Mother of the Sun with visual artist Amruta Patil, Immortality: A Traveler’s Guide; Mingled Waters: Sufism and the Mystical Unity of Religions; and Saracen Chivalry: Counsels on Valor, Generosity and the Mystical Quest. Pir Zia divides his time between Richmond, Virginia and Suresnes, France.