Molana Jalal Uddin Rumi

Molana Jalal Uddin Rumi was a 13th-century poet, Hanafi faqih, Islamic scholar, Maturidi theologian and Sufi mystic originally from Greater Khorasan in Greater Iran. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets and spiritual masters of all time. His works have influenced countless writers, artists, musicians and thinkers across cultures and centuries. He is also the founder of the Mevlevi order, also known as the Whirling Dervishes, who practice Sufism and perform sacred dances as a form of worship. Rumi was born in Balkh, a city that was then part of the Khwarezmian Empire and is now in Afghanistan. His father was a renowned scholar and preacher who fled from the Mongol invasion with his family and settled in Konya, in present-day Turkey. Rumi received a classical Islamic education and became a jurist and teacher. He was also initiated into Sufism by his father's friend Burhan al-Din Tirmidhi. Rumi's life changed dramatically when he met Shams al-Din Tabrizi, a wandering dervish who became his spiritual mentor and beloved friend. The two men had a profound and intense relationship that lasted for several years until Shams mysteriously disappeared. Rumi was devastated by the loss of Shams and expressed his grief and longing in his poetry. He also found solace in music and dance, which he used as a way of connecting with the divine. [^10^] ¹¹ Rumi wrote thousands of poems in Persian, Arabic and Turkish, as well as prose works such as the Masnavi (Spiritual Couplets), a six-volume epic that covers various topics of Islamic theology, philosophy and mysticism. His poetry is rich with imagery, symbolism, humor and wisdom. He often used stories and anecdotes from various sources, such as the Quran, the Hadith, the Bible, Greek mythology and folk tales. He also addressed his poems to Shams or to God as his beloved. His poetry is widely admired for its beauty, depth and universality. ¹²¹³ Rumi died in Konya on December 17, 1273 at the age of 66. He was buried next to his father in a mausoleum that later became a museum and a place of pilgrimage for his followers. His son Sultan Valad succeeded him as the leader of the Mevlevi order and continued his father's legacy. Rumi's influence has transcended national borders and ethnic divisions: Iranians, Turks, Afghans, Tajiks, Kurds, Greeks, Pashtuns and other Muslims have greatly appreciated his spiritual heritage for the past seven centuries. His poetry has also been translated into many languages and has inspired many people of different faiths and backgrounds around the world. ¹⁴