Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi(1207-1273)
- Writer
Jalaluddin Rumi, Scholar in Religious Sciences and famed Sufi Mystic
Poet, was born on September 29th 1207 A.D. in Balkh (modern day
Afghanistan). Escaping Mongol invasions he travelled extensively to
Muslim lands, Bagdad, Mecca, Damascus, Malatia (Turkey). Married Gevher
Khatun of Samarquand and moved to Quonya (Konya in present day Turkey).
Encountering the wandering dervish and Saint Shamsuddin Tabrezi, who
introduced him to the path of mystical and spiritual knowledge. Author
of six volumes of didactic epic works. His most famous work in seven
books and 24,660 couplets is written in Dari and Arabic and commonly
referred to as the "Persian Quran" by Jami. His son was killed with the
mystic dervish Shams. He himself died on December 16th 1273 A.D. and
his bier was followed by men of five faiths. The night became the
"Sebul Arus" or "Night of Union", and ever since the Mawlawi Dervishes
celebrate this date as a Festival. Rumi leaves the world a legacy of
profound poetry and writings of the most intense spirituality and
simplicity ever to be written. Rumi's "Divan-e-Shams" and "Mathnawi"
are his most popular works worldwide.
