Category: Maulana Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhi (Rumi)
Rumi, known as مولانا (Maulana) in Persian, was born in 1207 in the city of Balkh, (Greater Khorasan) which is now part of Afghanistan. He came from a distinguished family of scholars and theologians. His full name was Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi, (Known as Rumi in west), and he is regarded as one of the greatest Persian poets and Sufi mystics. Rumi’s family fled the Mongol invasion of Central Asia when he was a child, migrating to the city of Konya, in present-day Turkey, where Rumi spent most of his life. The migration was driven by the threat of violence and the desire for safety. In Konya, Rumi became a prominent scholar, teacher, and spiritual leader. His teachings, which emphasize love, the search for divine truth, and the oneness of humanity, continue to inspire people around the world.
Rumi’s influence transcends national borders and ethnic divisions: Iranians, Tajiks, Turks, Greeks, Pashtuns, other Central Asian Muslims, and the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent have greatly appreciated his spiritual legacy for the past seven centuries.
