(Mohammed ibn Mohammed Moulavi Balkhi) (1207-1273). One of the greatest Sūfī mystics and Persian poets. He was a professor of theology at Konya in Asia Minor until his meeting with a mysterious spiritual teacher named Shamsuddin Mohammed of Tabriz, when he abandoned his theological career and devoted himself to Sūfī mysticism.

He was the founder of the Mevlevi order of “dancing” devishes. His major work was the Mathnawi-i Ma’nawi, (translated into English by R. A. Nicholson, 1925-40); it comprises 30,000 couplets contained in six books dealing with Sūfī lore. He died at Konya on December 17, 1273.

P.S.H.

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