Rumi
A 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic whose spiritual poetry remains among the best-selling and most widely translated poetry in the world today
Transformed by an intense and transformative friendship with a wandering mystic, this Islamic scholar abandoned conventional scholarly life to produce some of the most beloved spiritual poetry ever written.
A Scholarly Foundation
Rumi was trained as a respected Islamic scholar and teacher before a profound and transformative encounter with the wandering mystic Shams of Tabriz redirected his life toward mystical poetry.
Sufi Mysticism
Rumi became closely associated with Sufism, the mystical dimension of Islam, expressing profound spiritual themes of divine love and unity through his poetic works.
The Masnavi
Rumi's major work, the Masnavi, comprises tens of thousands of verses of spiritual poetry and storytelling, considered one of the most significant works of Persian and Islamic literature.
Enduring Modern Popularity
Rumi's poetry has achieved remarkable enduring global popularity, with English translations of his work remaining among the best-selling poetry collections in the United States centuries after his death.
