Hakim Sanai was a Persian poet and mystic who lived in the city of Ghazna, in what is now Afghanistan. His dates are uncertain, but he died between 1131-1141 CE. For more about him, see this earlier post. The poem refers to ‘Rum’, which at that time was the Muslim name for the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, empire.

Once a prince, the son of a certain king, heard the first line of a poem written by Hakim Sanai, and for reasons known only the Spirit of Guidance, was deeply struck by it. The line was :
O you who have heard about Rum and about China,
Rise and come to behold the empire of Sanai.

Making inquiries, he learned that Hakim Sanai was to be found in Ghazna, and thinking to see some of his empire before destiny would bring him to sit upon his own throne, he forthwith journeyed there. On his arrival, he found Hakim Sanai not in a glittering palace, but deep in meditation beside a tomb, wearing the robes of a dervish.

Wishing to learn what he could, the prince stayed nearby for some time, and at last he renounced his father’s kingdom and put on the cloak of a dervish. Then it happened that his wish was answered: sitting in the company of Hakim Sanai, he was shown a glimpse of the Truth that was so powerful it caused him to lose consciousness.

When he returned to his senses, Hakim Sanai asked him, “Have you seen our empire?”

“I have seen,” he replied, “but your poem said too little. Not only Rum and China, but all the kingdoms of the world are nothing in comparison.”