The Mesnevi of Jalal al-Din Rumi is one of the great classics of Sufi literature and among the most remarkable works of mystical poetry ever written. Often described as "the Qur'an in Persian," it has served for centuries as a guide to the spiritual teachings of Sufism. Written in the thirteenth century by the Persian poet and mystic Rumi (1207-1273), the Mesnevi unfolds through stories, parables, and reflections that explore the search for God and the inner life of the soul. Its pages combine spiritual instruction with vivid storytelling, expressing the themes of love, faith, and devotion that lie at the heart of Sufi tradition. This volume contains the First Book of the Mesnevi in the classic English translation and verse rendering by James W. Redhouse, together with an account of the life of Rumi drawn from early sources connected with the Mevlevi order, known in the West as the Whirling Dervishes. A cornerstone of Persian literature, the Mesnevi remains one of the most enduring works of spiritual wisdom ever written. This large print edition is designed for comfortable reading. FULL TITLE: The Mesnevi of Mevlānā Jelālu'd-dīn er-Rūmī. Book first, together with some account of the life and acts of the Author, of his ancestors, and of his descendants, illustrated by a selection of characteristic anedocts, as collected by their historian, Mevlānā Shemsu'd-dīn Ahmed el-Eflākī el-'Arifī, translated and the poetry versified by James W. Redhouse.