Balkh Province is in north central Afghanistan and has a population of 1,432,090. Balkh is said to be the birthplace of Zoroaster, who preached here between 1000 and 600 BCE. The capital city of Mazar e Sharif was a thriving city under Alexander the Great and was also home to the poetess Rabi’a Balkhi and the writer Rumi (Mawlana Jalaludin Balkhi). The Noh Gumbad Mosque (9th century CE) is one of the oldest in the world and the Tomb of Caliph Ali is an important place of pilgrimage.