Born on 30th September 1207, Rumi was born in a province called Balkh which is located in what is modern-day Afghanistan. The exact place of his birth is contested, however. Some say he was originally from the town of Balkh itself, which was the provincial capital while others argue that he was born in a small village close to the Vakhsh River. Although many villages could lay claim to being the birthplace of the great writer and teacher, Wakhsh - which is actually in modern-day Tajikistan – seems to be most likely.