History Focus
September 30

Persian mystic and poet born on September 30, 1207. Founder of the Muslim sect Mevlevi.

The Persian mystic and poet was born in what is now Afghanistan in 1207. Because of the advance of Mongols, Rumi's family migrated to Persia and settled in what is now western Turkey.

In 1244 Rumi accepted the religious guidance of Shams ad-Din, a dervish living in Tabrìz. Rumi planned to devote his life to creating poetry expressing his feelings for his spiritual master. In 1247 Shams ad-Din unexplainedly disappeared. Rumi composed nearly 30,000 verses of grief at this loss or his spiritual master. Later spiritual friendships again inspired his poetry..An example of poetry written later is the epic poem Masnavi-ye Manavi (Spiritual Couplets). This writing has had immense influence on Islamic literature and thought.

Rumi's life consisted of much contemplation and of many attempts at explaining the mysteries of this world. Rumi was early influenced by Islamic mysticism, or Sufism. It is this style and feelings that permeates his lyrical and didactic poetry. His writing is part of a religious tradition that is belived to excite "spiritual heroism"; embracing the holiness of love, lamentation, battle and the longing for God. Rumi's poetry reflects universal themes: the search for the highest truth, the mystery of surrender, the longing to overcome ego imprisonment.

Rumi died in 1273. After his death, his followers organized the sect of Mawlaw or Mevlevi, known in the West as the whirling, or dancing dervishes.

Sources: Microsoft(R) Encarta(R)