Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rumi, known to the Western world simply as Rumi, was a thirteenth century Sufi mystic and a great Persian poet, whose works have transcended all barriers. Born in today’s Afghanistan, he spent most of his adult years in present-day Turkey, at that time known as Rumi and hence the nisba Rumi. Educated at his father's madrassa, he acquired a thorough knowledge in Islamic scriptures before being appointed a Molvi at the age of 25, quickly acquiring a large following in cosmopolitan Konya. But, he gave all these up when he met his mentor Shams-i (or Shams-e) Tabrīzī and after his sudden disappearance began to pour out his grief through poems, writing mystical verses, which had a universal appeal. These poems, written in Persian, not only made him one of the most celebrated poets of his era, but also of this modern age. He had also written numerous letters, out of which 147 have been saved, providing an insights into his life and personality.