Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, more commonly known as Rumi, was a towering figure of the 13th century, who originally hailed from Greater Khorasan in the Greater Iran region. His legacy as a poet, Hanafi faqih, Islamic scholar, Maturidi theologian, and Sufi mystic has endured through the ages. Born on September 30, 1207, and passing away on December 17, 1273, Rumi's works were primarily penned in Persian, though he occasionally ventured into Turkish, Arabic, and Greek in his verse.

Rumi's magnum opus, the Masnavi (Mathnawi), composed in Konya, is celebrated as one of the greatest poems of the Persian language. His influence extends beyond national borders and ethnic divisions, touching the hearts of Iranians, Afghans, Tajiks, Turks, Kurds, Greeks, and Central Asian Muslims, as well as Muslims of South Asia. For over seven centuries, his spiritual legacy has been revered across various cultures. Notably, his poetry has not only enriched Persian literature but has also shaped the literary traditions of Ottoman Turkish, Chagatai, Pashto, Kurdish, Urdu, and Bengali languages.

Today, Rumi's works are widely read in their original language across Greater Iran and the Persian-speaking world. His poems have been translated into many of the world's languages and adapted into various formats. Renowned as the "most popular poet," Rumi enjoys widespread popularity in countries like Turkey and Azerbaijan, and in South Asia. Furthermore, he has been heralded as the "best selling poet" in the United States, signifying his universal appeal and timeless relevance.