Jalaluddin al Rumi, one of the greatest Muslim saints and mystics, has also been hailed by Western scholars as the greatest mystical poet of all time. Popular versions of his poetry have made him the best-selling poet in America in recent years, after a period of over 700 years, during which his fame has endured in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
The popularity of his poetry has spread in the West because of its heart-felt themes of lover-beloved mysticism, and its spiritual joy which seems to emancipate even from the most distorted versions in English. However, this has also been attained by sacrifices; a lack of accuracy of the meanings of his words and teachings; and a deliberate belittlement and evasion of verses in his poetry that revealed that he was a pious Muslim all his life, and a very devoted follower of a daily life filled with prayer, as exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
He was born in what is now the nation of Tajikistan (the country north of Afghanistan) in the town of Wakhsh , where his father worked as a Muslim preacher and scholar. Wahksh was part of the cultural area of the ancient city of Balkh (in present-day Afghanistan), which had been a major center of Islamic learning for five hundred years before Rumi was born. His father, also a great mystic, or sufi master, was from Balkh. He named his son Muhammad, but later called him by the additional name, Jalâlu 'd-deen ("the Glory of the Faith"). His full name was Jalâlu 'd-deen Muhammad bin Husayn al-Balkhî. Later, when he moved to Anatolia (present day Turkey) with his family, he became known as Jalâlu 'd-deen Muhammad al-Roomee. This is because Anatolia had been called for centuries "Rûm" (Rome) which meant "the land of the Greeks" (who had long ruled the area from Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and later the Byzantine Empire). In the East, he has always been known as Mawlânâ.Only in the West has he been called "Rumi.."
Rumi must have memorized much or all of the Holy Qur'an when he was young, because the Mathnawi and his other poetry are filled with direct quotes in Arabic, Persian paraphrases, and references to Qur'anic verses.
Rumi was 37 years of age when he met his second sufi master, Shamsu 'd-deen Muhammad al-Tabreezee (from Tabrîz), traditionally believed to have been about 60 years old. In a biography of Rumi, written by a disciple of Rumi's grandson, Aflâkî, are many accounts of how Rumi prayed the five daily Islamic prayers, fasted during the month of Ramadan, and did many extended voluntary fasts. But it is in the masterpiece of his later life, the Mathnawî-ye Ma`nawî (literally, "Rhymed Couplets of Deep Spiritual Meaning") that he reveals himself as both a profound mystic and an extremely devout Muslim. And a study of his stories and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad reveals his veneration and love for the Holy Prophet and the Revelation that was sent to him from God Most High.
Mawlânâ Jalâluddîn Muhammad al-Balkhî al-Rûmî died in 1273 and was buried next to his father's tomb in Konya, Turkey. The anniversary of his death was commemorated for centuries according to the Islamic lunar calendar, but has been celebrated in Turkey for the past 50 years according to the Western calendar on December 17. On the night of this date, Mevlevis all over the world whirl in remembrance and glorification of God, and many kinds of groups read Rumi's poetry in their own languages.
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