**Shams Tabrizi and His Profound Connection with Rumi: A Journey Beyond the World**
The story of Shams Tabrizi begins with a dream that sets him on an extraordinary spiritual journey. In this dream, Shams was told that he would meet a spiritual companion, a saint, in Rome. At this point in his life, Shams was a wandering mystic, constantly traveling through cities like Damascus, Aleppo, Baghdad, and Tabriz, never settling. His restless spirit and habit of staying alone in caravanserais earned him the nickname "Shams the Bird."
Though born Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Malikdad around 1185 CE (582 AH), Shams was a rebellious soul from an early age. Raised by a well-meaning but detached father, he quickly rejected the conventional teachings of the world. Shams found solace in spiritual gatherings and schools, seeking out various Sufi elders like Pir Sajasi and Pir Selleh Baf. However, despite meeting many great mystics, including the famed Ibn Arabi, Shams felt disconnected, as though none could be his spiritual companion. He always searched for more profound inner wisdom rather than traditional teachings.
At around 60 years old, Shams arrived in Konya, a fateful moment that led to his meeting with Jalaluddin Rumi. This encounter sparked one of the most essential spiritual relationships in Islamic mysticism. Rumi, then a 38-year-old scholar, was profoundly transformed by Shams. Their intense bond shifted Rumi's entire life trajectory, turning him from an esteemed academic into a passionate mystic who embraced the path of love and divine union.
Shams rejected philosophical debates and intellectualism, encouraging Rumi to embrace a life of spiritual ecstasy and love. He warned Rumi against rigid asceticism and led him into the practice of ecstatic dance (Sama), a ritual that became central to Rumi's mystical expression. The two would spend hours, sometimes days, in secluded conversation, wholly absorbed in each other's company. Shams' influence drew Rumi away from his scholarly followers, creating a sense of jealousy and animosity among them. Eventually, this tension grew too much, and Shams left Konya without a word.
Rumi, devastated by Shams' departure, longed for his return. After receiving a letter from Shams, who had gone to Syria, Rumi's son, Sultan Walad, traveled to bring Shams back to Konya. Rumi welcomed Shams with open arms, and the Sama gatherings resumed, rekindling their deep spiritual connection. However, Rumi's followers' jealousy and resentment toward Shams only intensified.
Shams' return to Konya marked a turbulent time. He married Kimia Khatun, Rumi's stepdaughter, but their marriage was fraught with difficulties. Shams, deeply infatuated with Kimia despite the vast age difference, struggled with jealousy, especially when Alauddin Chalabi, Rumi's son, showed affection for Kimia. Their relationship deteriorated, and when Kimia fell ill and died, Shams was devastated. This series of personal and external conflicts pushed Shams to the breaking point.
Shams disappeared again, this time never to return. While various accounts suggest he may have been killed in a conspiracy possibly involving Alauddin, the exact circumstances of his disappearance remain a mystery. Some believe his body was secretly buried in Konya, but Rumi never stopped searching for his beloved friend, making several trips to Syria in hopes of finding him.
Shams' influence on Rumi was profound and enduring. Even though Shams did not write extensively, his teachings, philosophy, and presence are immortalized through Rumi's works, such as **Diwan Shams Tabrizi** and **Mathnawi**. Rumi's poetry overflows with the spiritual and mystical themes inspired by his connection with Shams. In this way, Shams lives on through Rumi, much like Socrates through Plato.
Their relationship represents a transformative meeting of souls that transcended the physical world and left an indelible mark on Islamic mysticism. Shams Tabrizi may have faded from history as a person, but his essence continues to shine through the legacy of Rumi's poetry and the spiritual path they both embraced.
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