Shams Tabrizi Biography

(Poet)

Born: 1185

Born In: Tabriz, Iran

Shams al-Din or Shams Tabrizi was a Persian Sufi poet and mystic who was the spiritual guru of the famous poet Rumi. While Jalaluddin Rumi is known all over the world, not many have heard of Shams, the person who inspired Rumi to write his most beautiful lines. Shams was born in Tabriz in Iran. He was spiritually inclined even as a child and had a passionate Sufi mystic as his master. He was also highly educated in other subjects. When he grew up, he traveled from place to place seeking a spiritual companion. He hid his erudition well and pretended to be a traveling salesman, making a living by weaving baskets and teaching children. Towards the end of his life, he met Rumi and found the companionship that he had been seeking all his life. Shams transformed Rumi’s outlook on Sufism and showed him the path to the divine majesty. Their closeness became the reason for the animosity of Rumi’s followers towards Shams. Rumi named one of his major works ‘Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi’ after his spiritual guide.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Shams al-Din, Shams al-Din Mohammad bin Ali bin Malik-e Dad

Died At Age: 63

Family:

father: Imam Ala al-Din

children: Hajib Shakarbar

Born Country: Iran (islamic Republic Of)

Poets Iranian Men

Died on: 1248

place of death: Khoy, Iran

  • 1

    What is the significance of Shams Tabrizi in Rumi's life?

    Shams Tabrizi was a spiritual instructor and mentor to the famous Persian poet Rumi. He played a crucial role in Rumi's spiritual transformation and was instrumental in deepening Rumi's understanding of love and spirituality.

  • 2

    What teachings or philosophies are associated with Shams Tabrizi?

    Shams Tabrizi emphasized the concept of divine love, often referred to as "ishq," which involves a deep, all-encompassing love for the divine. He also focused on the idea of self-realization and inner enlightenment through spiritual practices.

  • 3

    How did Shams Tabrizi influence Rumi's poetry?

    Shams Tabrizi's intense friendship and spiritual teachings had a profound impact on Rumi's poetry. Rumi's verses often reflect the themes of love, longing, and spiritual union that were inspired by his deep connection with Shams.

  • 4

    What is the story behind the disappearance of Shams Tabrizi?

    Shams Tabrizi mysteriously disappeared in 1247, which deeply affected Rumi. It is believed that some of Rumi's most profound writings and poems were inspired by his longing and search for his vanished spiritual guide.

  • 5

    How is Shams Tabrizi remembered in Sufi traditions?

    Shams Tabrizi is revered in Sufi traditions as a spiritual luminary and a symbol of divine love and enlightenment. His teachings continue to inspire seekers on the path of spiritual growth and self-realization.

Childhood & Early Life
Shams al-Din (Sun of religion) or Shams Tabrizi was born in the 1180s in Tabriz, now in Iran. He was the son of Imam Ala al-Din. From an early age, he would have mystic visions which were incomprehensible to his parents. He wrote in his autobiography that his father did not understand him at all.
As a young boy, on the verge of puberty, he developed an aversion to food and starved for thirty or forty days. When offered food by his parents, he would refuse to eat it, hiding the food in his sleeves.
Shams al-Din found his spiritual master in Hazrat Sheikh Abu Bakr Sallebaf. Harzat Sallebaf was a passionate Sufi master. Young Shams would often be twirled around by his teacher in the Sufi tradition of ‘sama’.
He also studied under Baba Kamal al-Din Jumdi. He was a highly educated man who valued the academic study of religion and not just the spiritual side of it.
He was also well-versed in ‘fiqh’ or the study of Islamic jurisprudence. However, he would hide his education from his peers who would often wonder whether he was a scholar of the law ‘faqih’ or an ascetic ‘faqir’.
According to Rumi, Shams had a deep knowledge of alchemy, astronomy, theology, philosophy and logic. Rumi’s son Sultan Walad in his writings tells us that Shams was “a man of learning and wisdom and eloquence and composition”.
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Life
In search of spiritual learning, Shams Tabrizi traveled all over the Middle East - Baghdad, Aleppo, Damascus, Kayseri, Aksaray, Sivas, Erzurum and Erzincan. He hid his identity and disguised himself as a traveling salesman. He would stay in inns like merchants and not in Sufi lodges.
It is said that he wove baskets and trouser girdles to eke out a living. He had been a construction worker in his youth and during his wandering days in Erzincan, he tried to get some construction work. However, he was so frail that no one would hire him.
Apart from using his manual skills, he would also give lessons to children on how to read the Quran. He even developed a method to teach the entire Quran in only three months.
Association with Rumi
Shams Tabrizi spent most of his life as a wandering dervish in search of a spiritual companion. He heard famous teachers speak and met Sufi saints, but he did not feel an affinity towards anyone.
In his writings, he talked of dreams where God assures him that he would find the right companion when the time came. His wanderings lead him to Konya. He was almost sixty when he arrived at the city on November 29, 1244, where he was to have his fateful meeting with Rumi.
In ‘Maqalat,’ Shams Tabrizi wrote that he had first met Rumi 16 years ago in Syria where he had heard Rumi speak possibly during a debate or a lecture. He had been favorably inclined towards Rumi since then but had felt that Rumi lacked the maturity to comprehend the spirituality of Shams.
On that day in November, he was disguised as a merchant, dressed in black from top to toe. Rumi came riding on his mule with his retinue of disciples amid a busy marketplace where Shams stopped him with a question.
Shams’ question to Rumi was ‘How is it that Abayazid did not need to follow, and did not say “Glory be to Thee” or “We worship Thee?” According to Shams, Rumi fully understood the depth of the question and its philosophical implications.
There are many popular stories about the meeting of Rumi and Tabrizi. A popular myth tries to highlight the divine touch of Tabrizi. He is said to have thrown a stack of Rumi’s books in water and when Rumi’s students hurriedly pulled them out they found that none of the pages had become wet.
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Both myths and facts underline the fact that Tabrizi’s search for a disciple ended with Rumi. Rumi was an accomplished scholar and a respected teacher himself so the relationship was not of a typical one between a student and teacher; rather, it was a relationship of mutual respect, brotherhood and friendship.
Shams advised Rumi that Sufism could not be learnt through books but by “going and doing”. In the company of Shams, the scholarly Maulana Rumi became spiritually transformed.
The two mystics became inseparable and lived together for many months. With Tabrizi becoming the one focus of his life, Rumi could no longer pay attention to his students or his family.
Rumi’s followers grew resentful of the intimacy between their teacher and Shams. They blamed Tabrizi for taking away their teacher from them and wanted him to leave. Thus, in February 1246 Tabrizi left for Syria without warning.
Rumi was heart-broken. Angry with his students, he withdrew from them even more.Pain and longing flowed from his pen. He wrote thousands of couplets of his most insightful work. In his poems, Shams was the guiding light of God’s love for mankind.
Rumi’s disciples realized their mistake and apologized profusely. When it was learnt that Shams was in Damascus, a letter was sent to him, requesting him to return. Rumi’s eldest son, Sultan Walad took a search party and went to Syria, returning with Shams to Konya in April 1247.
Joyous celebrations took place upon Shams’ return to Konya. People apologized to him. He himself was full of praise for Hazrat Walad and wrote that he had gone away for the sake of Rumi’s spiritual development.
The two men resumed their discussions and spiritual communion. Shams remained in Konya with Rumi till 1248, the year he disappeared again mysteriously. Rumi went looking for him to Damascus twice but did not find him.
Major Works
Shams Tabrizi’s work ‘Maqalat,’ written in prose form, brings to the readers his thoughts on spirituality, philosophy and theology. He was an eloquent speaker who could move audiences with his profound ideas expressed in a simple way.
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Personal Life & Death
Towards the end of 1247, Shams Tabrizi got married to a young woman who had been raised in Rumi’s household. She was named Kimia. She did not live long and died when she fell ill after being out in a garden.
It is believed that Shams Tabrizi died in 1248. Rumi’s son Sultan Walad writes in his ‘Walad-Nama mathnawi’ that Tabrizi disappeared from Konya one night and was never seen again.
Another version of his death says that he left Konya for Tabriz. On the way, he died in Khoy. There is a memorial in Khoy dating back to 1400, which is associated with his name.
It was proved in the 20th century that Shams was murdered by Rumi’s associates who had again grown jealous of him. The murder had the tacit support of Rumi’s sons. His body was thrown into a nearby well which is still present in Konya.
Facts About Shams Tabrizi

Shams Tabrizi was known for his unconventional behavior, such as walking around naked as a sign of spiritual freedom and detachment from worldly possessions.

He had a unique way of teaching, often using puzzles, riddles, and paradoxes to challenge his students' understanding and encourage deeper introspection.

Shams Tabrizi had a deep connection with nature and often sought solitude in the wilderness to contemplate and meditate on spiritual matters.

He was known for his love of music and poetry, using them as tools to convey profound spiritual truths and insights to his followers.

Shams Tabrizi's unorthodox methods and teachings challenged societal norms and encouraged his students to question conventional beliefs and strive for personal growth and enlightenment.

See the events in life of Shams Tabrizi in Chronological Order

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- Shams Tabrizi Biography
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- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
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URL
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