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Jalal al Din Rumi (1207-73 CE) was born in the Persian province of Khorassan (modern day Afghanistan). A disciple of the Sufi tradition, he was the figurehead of the Whirling Dervishes. Over his prolific career as both poet and scholar, his poetry is what he is best remembered for: the Masnavi, a narrative poem of 25,000 verses in six volumes, is widely considered to be the greatest spiritual masterpiece ever written.