Maulana Jalal Alddin Muhammad Balkhi mostly known as Molavi is a Persian poet from 7th century. He was born in Balkh in 604. His father, Baha-o-Din, was of the scientists and mystics of his own time. Due to bitter disagreement that had arisen between Baha-o-Din and Soltan Muhammad Kharazmshah, he abandoned Balkh and after a period moved to Konya, at that time Molavi was a 13-year-old boy. Every one paid a lot of attention to him from the very beginning. Eventually, when Maulana was 25 years old, his father passed away. After his father’s death, Maulana was trained and educated under supervision of Borhan-o-Din and by the age of 40, Maulana was a total master of mystic and science of his age. Many ordinary people and disciples were benefiting from his knowledge and presence until Shams an ascetic and mystic came to Qunyieh and crossed path with Maulana. Henceforth, the gleam of Shams’ look touched Molavi’s heart to the very fabric like no one else before. This encounter occurred in 642.
Seeing Maulana so profoundly growing fond of an anonymous ascetic, caused jealousy to flare up in the heart of his devotees who had found themselves bereft of the attention they once received from Maulana. The result was nothing but their cursing and swearing mischievously at Shams not only secretly but also in the full view of the public.
Maulana’s poetry has the magical ability to show us this truth and to unlock love’s precious secrets. within the folds of his words we gain entrance to a hidden chamber; we hear whispers that are ancient, yet intimate; we behold the endless love story between the individual soul and god. like looking into a polished mirror, or like being in the presence of a holy being, reading Molavi’s poetry shows us ourselves and our state, but more than that, it shows us the boundless glory of what we can become.
Sadly, his life ended in 668 in Konya at the age of 66. The tomb of this renowned and famous Persian poet is located in that city. Some of his works include:
Masnavi, Kulliyat-e Shams, Rubaiyat of Maulana, Maktoobat, Fihi-ma-fih and Majalis Sabe