Rumî

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, commonly known as Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Born in 1207 in Balkh, in present-day Afghanistan, he is considered one of the greatest poets of all time and a profound spiritual figure. His family eventually settled in Konya, in present-day Turkey, where he became a renowned teacher and preacher.

Rumi's most famous works are the Masnavi and the Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi. The Masnavi is a six-volume epic poem of some 25,000 rhyming couplets, often referred to as the "Quran in Persian." It is a rich tapestry of anecdotes, parables, and wisdom, exploring themes of love, divine union, and the human soul's journey. The Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi is a collection of lyrical poems, primarily ghazals, inspired by his intense spiritual relationship with the wandering dervish Shams-e Tabrizi.

Rumi's teachings emphasize universal love, tolerance, and the direct experience of the divine. His poetry transcends religious and cultural boundaries, resonating with people from diverse backgrounds. He is credited with founding the Mevlevi Order, popularly known as the whirling dervishes, whose ecstatic dance is a form of spiritual meditation. Rumi died in 1273 in Konya, where his tomb remains a significant pilgrimage site. His influence on Persian, Turkish, and Indian literature, as well as on Sufism worldwide, is immeasurable.