Rumi (1207-1273), venerated as ‘Mevlana’, is the most famous exponent of the mystical tradition in Islam. The Mevlevi order of dervishes, celebrated for their ecstatic music and dance, was organized by Rumi’s eldest son on the basis of his teachings. He spent most of his life in Konya in Rum (modern Anatolia), whence the name ‘Rumi’. His longest work, the Mathnavi, has held its reputation in the eastern lands of the Islamic world as the most revered text after the Qur’an. In this compact essay Schimmel sketches the major landmarks and influences in Rumi’s life, his religious and cultural background, the dominant strands of imagery, and the range of tone and anecdote that animate his poetry.