Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi was born in Balkh (Afghanistan) in September 29, 1207 A.D. or 6th Rai'u-'l-avval 604 A.H. to a family of master Afghan theologians in Balkh in the north-eastern provinces of present day Afghanistan. He is the grandson of Jalale-'d-Din Huseyn el Khatibi and Malika'i Jihan - daughter of Khurram-shah King of Khorasan as a child maulana began his search for wisdom at the feet of Burhanu-'d-Din Serr-Daan el Muhaqqiq el Huseyni of Balkh a renown scholar of that era. Escaping the Mongol invasion and destruction, Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi and his family traveled extensively in the Muslim lands, Age 5 His family left his birth-place of Balkh for Baghdad, Age 8 From Baghdad to Mecca and Damascus and finally to Malatia (in Western Euphrates in Turkey) later performed pilgrimage to Mecca, Age 19 (1226 ad) Married Gevher Khatun the daughter of Lala Sharafu-'d-Din of Samarqand.and finally moved to Qonya (Konya) in the north-western provinces of then part of Seljuk Empire(in present day Turkey).
When his father Baha'u-'d-Din Veled Sultan-'l-Ulema passed away, Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi succeeded his father in 1231 as professor in religious sciences. Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi 24 years old was an already accomplished scholar in religious and positive sciences.
Age 37 On Saturdday, November 28, 1244 A.D. or 26th of Jamadi-ul0akhar 642 A.H., Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi and A wandering dervish, Shams-e-Din Muhammad Ibn Malik-dad Tabrizi, meet and Maulana is introduced into the mystical path.
Age 39 On March 14, 1246, 21st Shewwal, 643, Shams left Qonya and Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi for the first time.
His love and his bereavement for the death of Shams found their expression in a surge of music, dance and lyric poems, `Divani Shamsi Tabrizi'. Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi is the author of six volume didactic epic works;
Divan-e-Shams A compendium of poetry in praise of Shams in over 45,000 verses in Dari (Persian)
Mathnavi Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi's most famous work in 7 books, and 24,660 couplets, in Dari and some Arabic. This work is also commonly refered to as the Persian Quran by Jami.
Fihi ma Fihi Introductory discourses on metaphysics
Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi died on At sunset of December 16, 1273 A.D. 5th Jamadi-u-'l-Akhar 672 A.H. at the age of 66 solar years or 68 Lunar years. Men of five faiths followed his bier, the first and last time this phenomenon occurred. That night was named Sebul Arus (Night of Union). Ever since, the Mawlawi dervishes have kept that date as a festival.
Maulana’s family includes:
Brother: Ala'u-'d-Din (2 years older)
Sister: Not known - Married and remained in Balkh
2nd Wife: Unknown
Son - Killed with Shams
Daughter - married a local prince and left Qonya (Konya)
Son - Muhammad Baha'u-'d-Din Sultan Veled
