The Architect of Ecstasy: How Rumi’s Ancient Path of Love Conquered the Modern Heart

Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, and Islamic scholar, remains one of the most influential figures in world literature and spirituality. Born in 1207 in the city of Balkh (modern-day Afghanistan) or possibly Vakhsh (modern-day Tajikistan), Rumi’s early life was shaped by the upheaval of the Mongol invasions. His family eventually settled in Konya, in present-day Turkey, after a long journey through the heartlands of the Islamic world. It was here that he inherited his father’s position as a religious teacher, becoming a respected scholar deeply versed in Quranic studies, jurisprudence, and philosophy. However, Rumi’s life was destined to move beyond the boundaries of traditional academia and into the boundless realm of mystical love.