Who Was Rumi? On the Trail of the Mystical Persian Poet.
The 13th century Persian poet Rumi is frequently quoted even today. We set out to find out more about his life and work. Plus: some of his most beautiful words and wisdoms, here to read.
Interesting facts about Rumi's life and work
He was a poet, mystic, philosopher and scholar: Rumi - whose full name was actually Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī. He was born in 1207 in what is now Afghanistan into an Islamic family and as the son of a respected theologian. In the 13th century, however, the region was invaded by the Mongols and the family fled west and settled in Konya, in Anatolia (in present-day Turkey). Rumi became an important scholar there and held a chair at the university. During his life, he married twice and had three children. Rumi, however, is less known for his life story but rather for his work of poetry.
"Sometimes we meet people and nothing is the same anymore."
Crucial to the legacy he left this world was an encounter with a Sufi, a follower of the mystical direction of Islam: Shams of Tabriz. This Shams of Tabriz became Rumi's teacher and master and had an immense influence on the development of the man who would be remembered for centuries to come. A profound friendship developed between the two men, which could probably be described as "a bond not of this world". Even though today we can only pass on the stories, in retrospect it seems as if it was fate that the paths of these two men crossed. Sometimes we meet people and nothing is the same anymore. For there are people who challenge us to grow and unconsciously trigger a significant personal development within us. Perhaps the meeting of Rumi and Shams of Tabriz could be put into words like this. In any case, Shams of Tabriz is attributed a very great significance in the life and work of Rumi. For when Shams disappeared four years after their first encounter, Rumi was deeply shaken. But it seems to have been this emotional upheaval and dark phase of his life that led him to deep spiritual insights - which in turn became the source of inspiration for his world-famous poetic work.
Rumi's works are characterised by great emotional depth. Mystical themes interweave here with spiritual insights and poetic metaphors. They are wisdoms of life that seem to still be valid centuries later. Some words could therefore indeed be said to stand the test of time: Rumi's quotations touch not only the mind but also the heart.
