To truly understand Rumi and his thought, one must pay close attention to his intellectual and educational roots. Among the figures who shaped him, one of the most important—yet often overlooked by Rumi enthusiasts—is Burhān al-Dīn Muḥaqqiq Tirmidhī. Born in Tirmidh (in present-day Uzbekistan), Burhān was Rumi’s first teacher and a towering presence in the history of Sufism.
A devoted disciple of Baha’ al-Dīn, Rumi’s father, Burhān guided Rumi during two pivotal periods of his life. First, in childhood, he served as Rumi’s private tutor, or lālā, as it was called then. Later, after Baha’ al-Dīn’s death, he resumed his mentorship in Konya. Throughout these periods, Burhān left a profound mark on Rumi’s intellectual and spiritual development—an influence that shines clearly in Rumi’s writings.
When Baha’ al-Dīn and his family migrated toward Rum, Burhān chose a life of seclusion and did not accompany them. Years later, he came to Konya seeking his student, only to learn of Baha’ al-Dīn’s passing. He looked upon Rumi as the inheritor of his father’s legacy and said: “Your father entrusted me not only with his outward knowledge but also with his inner states. You too must learn them from me.”
Rumi himself honored his beloved teacher in the Masnavi:
“Be matured and stay far from wrath
Turn into light, like Burhān Muḥaqqiq.” Revered for his deep knowledge of inner truths, Burhān al-Dīn earned the title Sayyid Sardān (meaning “one who is aware of secrets”. His prose was simple, concise, and precise, and he held a particular admiration for the poetry of Sanā’ī. His seminal work, Ma‘ārif-i Burhān, was composed during his nine-year stay in Rum (629–638 AH), a period during which Rumi likely attended some of his sessions.
