The Timeless Story of Rumi and Shams of Tabriz
Few friendships in history have left such an eternal mark on the human heart as the one between Jalaluddin Rumi and Shams of Tabriz. It is not just the story of two men meeting it is the story of how love, friendship, and spirituality can transform the very soul of a human being.
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Who Was Shams of Tabriz?
Shamsuddin Tabrizi (1185–1248?) was a wandering dervish, a mystic who lived outside the boundaries of tradition. Known for his fiery temperament, uncompromising honesty, and deep spirituality, he wandered from city to city in search of a true companion someone who could understand the mysteries of divine love.
For years, Shams prayed for such a soul, and according to legend, God whispered to him: “The one you seek is in Konya.”
Who Was Rumi Before Shams?
Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi (1207–1273) was already a respected Islamic scholar, jurist, and preacher living in Konya (present-day Turkey). He was admired for his vast knowledge of the Qur’an, Hadith, law, and philosophy. Thousands attended his sermons.
But while he was a man of books and words, he had not yet tasted the fire of love that burns away the self. He was a scholar, but not yet a poet. He was a teacher, but not yet a lover.
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The Fateful Meeting
In 1244, Shams and Rumi met in Konya. Their first meeting has become the stuff of legend.
One story tells that Shams interrupted Rumi’s lecture by asking:
“Who is greater: Prophet Muhammad or Bayazid Bastami, the Sufi saint who once said ‘Glory be to me, how great is my majesty!’?”
The question stunned Rumi. As a scholar, he was forced to pause and reflect. He realized that Shams was pointing to a profound truth: Prophet Muhammad asked forgiveness even at the height of his nearness to God, while Bayazid was overwhelmed by a single drop of divine wine.
From that moment, Rumi recognized Shams as no ordinary dervish but a mirror of the Divine.
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The Friendship That Changed Everything
From that day onward, Rumi and Shams became inseparable. They spent months in deep companionship talking, meditating, and immersing themselves in the mysteries of God.
Rumi abandoned the life of scholarly prestige and chose the path of burning love. The transformation was so powerful that those around him could hardly recognize the man he once was. He began dancing, singing, and writing verses that poured directly from his soul.
To the outside world, this bond seemed strange even scandalous. Students and followers of Rumi grew jealous. They could not understand how their teacher, once a respected scholar, had become utterly absorbed in a wandering dervish.
The Disappearance of Shams
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The jealousy grew bitter. One night, Shams disappeared. Some say he was murdered by Rumi’s own disciples, perhaps even with the involvement of Rumi’s son Alaeddin. Others say Shams left voluntarily to save Rumi from conflict.
Whatever the truth, his absence devastated Rumi. Rumi searched for Shams in Damascus and other cities but could not find him. Finally, he realized the ultimate mystical truth:
Shams was not outside of him. Shams had become part of his soul.
Rumi’s Poetry: The Eternal Shams
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Out of grief and longing, Rumi turned to poetry. His verses became a river of divine love, pouring endlessly. He wrote the “Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi”, a massive collection of poems dedicated to Shams.
For Rumi, Shams was no longer just a man. He had become the symbol of the Divine Beloved. Every poem about Shams was, in truth, a poem about God.
This is why Rumi wrote of longing, burning, separation, and union because his love for Shams was transformed into love for the Eternal.
The Legacy
The meeting of Rumi and Shams gave birth to one of the richest bodies of mystical poetry the world has ever seen. Without Shams, Rumi might have remained a scholar remembered only in history books. With Shams, he became the poet of love whose words still inspire millions across cultures, religions, and languages.
The whirling dance of the Mevlevi dervishes founded by Rumi’s followers was also born from this flame of love, symbolizing the soul’s turning toward God.
Conclusion
The story of Rumi and Shams is not just about friendship. It is about awakening. It is about how one soul can ignite another, transforming dry knowledge into burning love, and turning a scholar into a mystic poet whose words still echo across centuries.
Shams was the spark. Rumi was the flame. And their story reminds us that true friendship can open the door to the Divine.
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