Rumi

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, known simply as Rumi, was born on September 30, 1207, in Balkh. His family fled the advancing Mongol hordes, eventually settling in Konya when Rumi was nineteen. This city, once part of the Eastern Roman Empire, would become the backdrop for Rumi's profound spiritual journey and literary contributions.

Initially expected to follow in his father's footsteps as an Islamic scholar, Rumi's life took a transformative turn with the arrival of the enigmatic dervish, Shams Tabrīzī. Their intense bond led Rumi to neglect his scholarly duties, and following Shams' mysterious disappearance, Rumi entered a deep period of grief. This emotional turmoil gave rise to his celebrated work, the Divan of Shams Tabrīzī, marking a pivotal moment in his spiritual and poetic evolution.

Rumi's most renowned work, the Masnavi, is often referred to as a 'Qur'an in Persian' and is hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces of Persian literature. It holds a revered place in Islamic literature, particularly within the Turko-Persian cultural sphere, where it is considered second only to the Quran.

Today, Rumi's poetry resonates globally, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers. His works are widely read in Greater Iran and Turkey, where the Mevlevi Order he founded continues to thrive. Rumi has been celebrated as the 'world's most popular poet,' and in recent years, he has emerged as the best-selling poet in the United States.