Jalal al-Din Rumi, also known simply as Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Born on September 30, 1207, in the region of Greater Khorasan (in present-day Afghanistan or Tajikistan), Rumi later settled in the town of Konya, in what is now Turkey, after his family fled the Mongol invasions. Rumi's poetry expresses the ecstasies and mysteries of love in all its forms—erotic, platonic, divine—and his works have been widely translated, making him one of the most popular poets in the world. His best-known work is the Mathnawi or Masnavi, a six-book spiritual epic that explores the soul's journey toward God. Rumi's writing is noted for its beauty, emotional intensity, and incorporation of everyday life experiences to illustrate mystical and complex Sufi concepts. His legacy transcends national and ethnic borders, and his message of peace and love resonates with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds to this day.