Rumi
Sufi mystic and poet, founder of the Mevlevi Order.
His family hailed from Balkh. Rumi is an influential figure in Sufism, and his thought and works loom large both in Persian literature and mystic poetry in general. Today, his translated works are enjoyed all over the world.
- field
- Sufi mystic, poet, Islamic scholar
- nationality
- Persian (from Greater Balkh, lived in Sultanate of Rûm)
- known_for
- Founder of the Mevlevi Order; author of the Masnavi and Divan of Shams Tabrīzī
Lore & Background
Rumi was born to Persian parents in Wakhsh, a village on the east bank of the Wakhsh River in present-day Tajikistan. His father, Bahā ud-Dīn Walad, was a preacher and jurist. The rapidly advancing Mongol hordes forced his family to flee west early in his life. After spending time in various cities across Iran, Baghdad, and Damascus, he settled in Konya with his family at age 19. Until recently, Konya had been a province of the Eastern Roman Empire, hence his name Rumi, i.e. 'the Roman.' Although exposed to Sufi thought from early childhood, he was expected to follow his father's footsteps as an Islamic scholar. The arrival to Konya of the mysterious wandering dervish Shams Tabrīzī altered the course of his life permanently. Rumi and Shams became infatuated with each other, causing Rumi to neglect his duties. When Shams mysteriously disappeared, Rumi experienced an intense period of grief reflected in his Divan of Shams Tabrīzī. This was the defining moment in the evolution of Rumi's spiritual worldview and marked the beginning of his poetic output. His Masnavi, often called a 'Qur'an in Persian,' is considered one of the greatest poems of the Persian language.
Reader's Guide
Rumi's significance lies in his role as a foundational figure in Sufism and Persian literature. His Masnavi is regarded by many Muslims, particularly in the Turko-Persian cultural sphere, as one of the most important works of Islamic literature, falling behind only the Quran. His Divan of Shams Tabrīzī emerged from his grief after Shams's disappearance and marked the start of his poetic career. Rumi's works are widely read today across his native Greater Iran as well as in Turkey, where the Mevlevi Order he founded is based. His poems have been translated into many of the world's languages, and he has been described as the 'world's most popular poet.' In the United States, he has become the best-selling poet in recent years. His legacy includes the Mevlevi Order, also known as the Order of the Whirling Dervishes, famous for the Sufi dance known as the Sama ceremony.
Did You Know?
- Rumi's name means 'the Roman' because he lived in Anatolia, formerly part of the Eastern Roman Empire.
- His Masnavi is often called a 'Qur'an in Persian' and is considered one of the greatest poems of the Persian language.
- Rumi's encounter with the wandering dervish Shams Tabrīzī caused him to neglect his duties and led to his poetic output.
- He has been described as the 'world's most popular poet' and is the best-selling poet in the United States in recent years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rumi?
Rumi was a 13th-century Persian Sufi mystic, poet, and Islamic scholar widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in Sufi history. He is best known for founding the Mevlevi Order and for shaping the tradition of Persian mystic poetry.
What are Rumi's major works?
His two principal literary contributions are the Masnavi, a six-volume poetic treatise exploring divine love and the soul's path back to God, and the Divan of Shams Tabrīzī, a vast compendium of lyric verses born from his deep spiritual bond with the wandering dervish Shams.
What is the Mevlevi Order?
The Mevlevi Order is the Sufi brotherhood that Rumi established, most famously associated with the whirling dance practiced as a form of meditative worship. It has maintained an unbroken chain of spiritual successors from his lifetime to the present day.
Where was Rumi born and where did he live?
Rumi came from the Greater Balkh region before his family settled in Konya within the Sultanate of Rûm, where he spent the remainder of his life and composed the bulk of his poetry.
Why is Rumi still widely read today?
His translated verses have become some of the most popular spiritual poetry outside the Islamic world, and his emphasis on universal love and direct inner experience of the divine continues to resonate across religious and cultural lines. He remains a central figure in both academic Sufi studies and popular spirituality.
More in Islamic Scholars And Sufi Mystics 1-20
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