RUMI

Called Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmi by the Persians and Afghans, Rumi was born on September 30, 1207 to a learned Persian family in Balkh, modern-day Afghanistan.

By age 24, his mastery of mathematics, law, philosophy and astronomy allowed him to take over his father's position as leading Sheikh in the Sufi learning community in Konya, present day Türkiye.

Rumi was a philosopher and mystic within the Islamic tradition, but was not an orthodox Muslim. He is known for his mystical poetry and his influence on mystical thought and literature.

Upon his death, his followers and his son Sultan Walad founded the Mevlevi Order, also known as the Order of the Whirling Dervishes, famous for the Sufi dance known as the Sama ceremony. He was laid to rest beside his father, and over his remains a shrine was erected.