Rumi
(1207–1273)

Rumi spent most of his life in Turkey as a great spiritual teacher and mystical poet. However, he was born in the city of Balkh, which is located in present day Afghanistan. Growing up, Rumi was the apprentice to a Sufi mystic. Upon his father's death, he began teaching religion. He quickly amassed many followers and created the Sufi order that Westerners know as the "Whirling Dervishes." The name refers to the artistic expression through song and dance that was essential to Rumi's teaching on the path to enlightenment.

His accompanying work, the Masnavi, was written at the suggestion of one of his disciples and incorporates Sufi wisdom and guidance in a six-volume masterpiece of lyric verse. Over the centuries, the Masnavi has remained one of the most valuable Sufi works, having been translated and studied by scholars, as well as memorized, sung, and revered by Muslim followers.

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