Poems & Poets

This poem is authored by Jalal-od-Din Mohammad Balkhi (Persian: جلال‌الدین محمد بلخى‎; 30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), also known as Mawlavi, Mawlana and Rumi. Mawlana was a 13th-century Persian poet, faqih, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic originally from Khorasan in Greater Iran (present-day Afghanistan). His works focus on “the roots of the roots of the roots of the religion”, as they address the heart and soul of the Qurʾanic message and the Prophetic legacy. As such, Mawlana's magnus opus, the Masnavi-e-Ma'navi, is known as the 'Persian Qur'an'. His other poetic collection, the Divan-e-Shams, contain shorter, more mystical poems dedicated to Love, and the Beloved. Mawlana is the most well-known of all Persian poets and mystics.

The below lines are the opening verses of the Masnavi-e-Ma'navi, which is one of the most important books in the Persian literary tradition. They are among the most famous verses of Persian poetry recited around the world. It begins with a call to 'listen to the reed-flute', which embodies the human soul that has been temporarily cut off from its 'reed-bed'. The reed flute tells its story, and as such, the Masnavi begins.

Reference: Mawlana – Masnavi-e Ma'navi – Book 1 – 1-18