These harmonies are echoes of that higher world of reality which we call the world of the spirits. As al-Ghazzali wrote in the eleventh century: "The heart of man has been so made by God that, like a flint, it contains a hidden fire which is evoked by music and harmony, and renders man beside himself with ecstasy. The teachings of the Sufis conveyed in poetry and song also provide a link between the devotions of the ordinary villagers and the high philosophical subtleties of the great mystics, utilising the power of music and poetry to move devotees towards greater love of God. This allows the Sufis to bring together Muslim and non-Muslim in a popular religious movement which spans the perceived gulf separating Islam from its neighbouring religions, whether Christians in Africa and the Middle East, or Hindus in India. Sufis believe that this search for God within and the quest for fana-total immersion in the absolute-liberates the seeker from the restrictions of narrow orthodoxy, allowing the devotee to look beyond the letter of the law to its mystical essence. What was important was not the empty external ritual of the mosque or temple, but simply to understand that divinity can best be reached through the gateway of the human heart -that we all have paradise within us, if we know where to look. Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, is the most accessible, liberal and pluralistic aspect of Islam, and a uniquely valuable bridge between East and West.Īll existence and all religions were one, maintained the great Sufi saints, merely different manifestations of the same divine reality. If an arrow strikes its target, it has done its work! We offer this book that Shams' words may inform and inspire those who, as warriors of love, yearn to experience the inexhaustible intoxication of the inner, unchanging Truth. As publishers of Shams-e Tabrizi's teachings, it is our hope that this book provides a means for Shams' words to reach their targets once again. Shams speaks of his words as "arrows" shot with the bow of truth. It may also be that Shams' words shed light on a dark place within you. It may be that you will gain little from particular passages, yet other passages will strike a strong and immediate chord. For this publication, they have been organized thematically with brief comments added below some passages, to suggest at least one of several possible interpretations. Shams' words are profound and rich in meaning. Yet though Shams rails frequently at hypocrisy, giving us insight into this important aspect of his teaching, he also acknowledges that Truth undiluted is rarely understood, and indeed, often drives people away. How, one may ask, can a human being put himself at the level of God? It would seem that for Shams, for whom Truth was all, it would have been hypocrisy to represent his reality any other way. He often drew no distinction between himself and the One-a fact that many may see as heretical. As you will soon discover, Shams was uncompromising in his communication of Truth. Shams' singular objective was to actualize, share, and celebrate with Rumi the divine dimension of the human potential. Rather, it is a chest filled with treasures-treasures that will continue to reveal their value the more you reflect upon them. This work is not meant to be an explanatory narrative of Shams' words, a collection of answers, or a book to be read from cover to cover. If you, like Shams, are concerned with God, then you will find both inspiration and learning latent in his words but we warn you from the outset: making sense of Shams' words is not easy! They will sometimes surprise with their generosity and sometimes frustrate in their opacity, but they will always offer more.įor this twenty-first century publication, Shams' words have been translated from the compilation of the original thirteenth century Farsi by Mohammad Ali Movahed into modern English by an Iranian American, herself a disciple of a living spiritual teacher in a lineage of contemporary mystics. Shams' sole concern was the reality of spirit, the divine-a reality some refer to as God. They were not directed toward historians of mysticism and Sufism, lovers of literature or poetry or philosophers seeking a coherent narrative on life's meaning. Shams' words were thus addressed to a lover of divine Truth. His mission was to transform Rumi into a God-intoxicated, God-realized human being. It is believed that Shams came for one disciple, one student, to whom he directed his energy and his teachings: Jalal al-Din Rumi, fondly known as Rumi. We are pleased to present passages from the recorded discourses of Shams-e Tabrizi in the context of a dynamic relationship between teacher and student.
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