JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.16/themes/start/jquery-ui.css">
<div id="your-dialog-id">Your modal dialog</div>
<a href="#" id="open">Open dialog</a>

JavaScript

$("#open").click(function(){
    $("#your-dialog-id").dialog("open");
});

$("#your-dialog-id").dialog({autoOpen:false,modal: true});

$('.ui-widget-overlay').live('click', function() {
     $('#your-dialog-id').dialog( "close" );
});