When Shams and Rumi met...

The essence of all religions is to reach God or the Truth, or the Absolute Reality. The religions are like different rivers flowing into the same Sea. They may have different ways, but the destination is the same. Mevlana Rumi's message is still relevant after seven hundred years. Rumi was a great thinker/philosopher, poet, or Sufi in present day Turkey (Persia).

Mevlana Rumi around the age of 37 came in contact with a very spiritual figure known as Shams Tabriz meaning The Sun of Tabriz ( Tabriz a city in Iran ). People say he was a wandering dervish in search of a companion who could share his gnosis and be a mirror to him, but in truth no one but Mavlana Rumi knew his secret. After meeting with Shams, Mevlana took a retreat from his daily life. He stopped teaching at the institute where he was in the modern sense the Chair of the college. He would spend days and night with Shams mediating upon the Eternal Truth not meeting his family and spiritual disciples for many days at length. After Mevlana Rumi's meeting with Shams, Mevlana said this about him "Today I have seen the God I have worshipped all my life in human form" and at another place he said that Shams was no ordinary vagabond he looked, he was an educated and well off Chemist who had left his profession in search of the divine truth.

Eventually, Shams disappeared. It is said that Mavlana Rumi's jealous disciples murdered him. No one really knows what happened to Shams but his effect on Mevlana Rumi had been that of a catalyst, Rumi was transformed. This separation appeared to be a separation of two humans but in reality it was the separation of men and God. Just like man has never been happy since he left his place of origin, he finds satisfaction only in the remembrance of God, likewise Mevlana Rumi longed for reunion with God.

Mevlana went into a state of ecstasy after this separation and would not meet anyone for many days', singing and dancing day and night, remembering the Divine Beloved. Poetry poured from his lips, which eventually was collected into collections such as the Mathnavi, Divan-e-Shams-i Tabrizi and Rubaiyaat. In Mevlana Rumi's own words "I was the country's sober ascetic, I used to teach from the pulpit - but destiny made me one of Thy hand clapping Lovers:" from the Divan

Mevlana Rumi not only transformed the history of Persian literature but also fulfilled the prophecy of the great Sufi poet Fariduddin Attar (author of Conference of the Birds) who said to Mevlana Rumi's father "soon this son of thine will set the spiritual aspirants of this world afire.

Even after his disappearance Shams remained alive in Mevlana's heart. Mevlana Rumi probably never believed in Shams death and therefore went two times to Damascus in search of him. It is said that once a person came to Mevlana and told him that he had seen Shams. Mevlana gave away his cloak to him upon which his son said that this man is lying only to make you happy. At which Mevlana said, "I have given away my robe for a lie, I would give my life for the truth."

Finally Mevlana came to the conclusion that Shams was within himself and
said," Though in body I am far from him, without body and spirit we two are one light .
Since I am he and he is I, why do I seek? We are one, now I will sing of myself"

After Shams disappearance Mevlana Rumi left teaching at the university and only taught his spiritual disciples the path of Love/ Sufism. He continued his inspired poetry till his last breath.

"When you see my funeral, don't say, "Parting and separation!"
for me, that is the time for union and meeting (God)."

Holy Qur'an

From Surah 23 (Al-Mu'minūn):

[23:1] Certainly will the believers have succeeded:
[23:2] They who are during their prayer humbly submissive
[23:3] And they who turn away from ill speech
[23:4] And they who are observant of zakah
[23:5] And they who guard their private parts
[23:6] Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed -
[23:7] But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -
[23:8] And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive
[23:9] And they who carefully maintain their prayers -
[23:10] Those are the inheritors
[23:11] Who will inherit al-Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally
[23:12] And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay
[23:13] Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging
[23:14] Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators
[23:15] Then indeed, after that you are to die
[23:16] Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected
[23:17] And We have created above you seven layered heavens, and never have We been of [Our] creation unaware
[23:18] And We have sent down rain from the sky in a measured amount and settled it in the earth. And indeed, We are Able to take it away


http://quran.com/23

The only vision I have- HAFEZ

The only vision I have is your sight
The only thing I follow is your light
Everyone finds his repose in sleep
Sleep from my eyes has taken flight

جز نـقـش تو در نـظر نیامد ما را
جز کوی تو رهـگذر نیامد ما را
خواب ارچه خوش آمد همه را در عهدت
حـقا کـه بـه چشم در نیامد ما را

Pick up the joy giving wine and come hither
Temptations of mean foes decline and come hither
Don’t listen to the one who says sit down and stay;
Listen to me, pick up the line and come hither

بر گیر شراب طرب​انگیز و بیا
پنهان ز رقیب سفله بستیز و بیا
مشنو سخن خصم که بنشین و مرو
بشنو ز من این نکته که برخیز و بیا

I said, your lips said, your lips we revive
I said, your mouth said, sweetness we derive
I said your words, he said, Hafiz said
May all sweet lips be joyous and alive

گفتـم که لبت, گفت لبم آب حیات
گفتم دهنت, گفت زهی حب نبات
گفتـم سخن تو, گفت حافظ گفتا
شادی همه لطیفه گویان صـلوات

One, beautiful and full of grace
Mirror in hand, grooming her face
My handkerchief I offered, she smiled,
Is this gift also part of the chase?

ماهی که قدش به سرو می‌ماند راست
آیینه به دست و روی خود می‌آراست
دستارچه‌ای پیشکشش کردم گفت
وصلم طلبی زهی خیالی که توراست

I put my arms around your waist
A lover’s embrace to taste
From your resolve it’s obvious
All my efforts will go to waste

مـن باکـمر تو در میان کردم دسـت
پنداشتمش که در میان چیزی هست
پیداسـت از آن میان چو بربست کمر
تا من ز کمر چه طرف خواهم بربسـت

You are the moon and the sun is your slave;
As your slave, it like you must behave
It is only your luminosity and light
That light of sun and moon can save

تو بدری و خورشید تو را بنده شده‌ست
تا بنده تو شده‌ست تابنده شده‌ست
زان روی کـه از شـعاع نور رخ تو
خورشید منیر و ماه تابنده شده‌ست

A new challenge everyday
You keep away and delay;
When I act to close the gap
Fate says there is a bigger play

هر روز دلم بـه زیر باری دگر اسـت
در دیده من ز هجر خاری دگر اسـت
مـن جـهد همی‌کنم قضا می‌گوید
بیرون ز کـفایت تو کاری دگراسـت

My beloved is brighter than the sun,
Put in the heavens, my only one
Placed the hearts upon the earth
To watch the sun’s daily run

ماهم که رخش روشنی خور بگرفت
گرد خط او چشمه کوثر بگرفـت
دلها همه در چاه زنخدان انداخت
وآنگـه سر چاه را به عنبر بگرفت

My broken heart’s sorrows are deep
Painful, disturbed, broken my sleep
If you don’t believe, send me your thoughts
And you will see how in sleep I weep

امشب ز غمت میان خون خواهم خفت
وز بستر عافیت برون خواهم خفت
باور نکنی خیال خود را بفرسـت
تا در نگرد که بی‌تو چون خواهم خفت

Candle’s story how can I tell?
Of the broken heart’s living hell?
My sorrow is in how I can find
Another who knows these sorrows well

نی قصه آن شمع چگل بتوان گفـت
نی حال دل سوخته دل بتوان گفـت
غم در دل تنگ من از آن است که نیست
یک دوست که با او غم دل بتوان گفت

-From RUBAIYAT of Hafez-e Shirazi

I DIDN´T KNOW

During the day I praised you and I didn't know

At night I laid with You and I didn't know

I had thought that I was myself

but I was entirely You and I didn't know

Rumi