About the Author

Jalal al-Din, known as Rumi (i.e., from Rum) or Mawlana (Master), was born in 1207 at Balkh in northern Afganistan. He worked as a preacher, succeeding his father, and founded the Sufi order known to us as the Whirling Dervishes, who use dance and music as part of their spiritual devotion. He died in 1273 and his burial place in Konya remains a shrine to this day.