Shams Tabrizi Quotes

Don’t search for heaven and hell in the future. Both are now present. Whenever we manage to love without expectations, calculations, negotiations, we are indeed in heaven. Whenever we fight, hate, we are in hell.

Most of conflicts and tensions are due to language. Don't pay so much attention to the words. In love’s country, language doesn't have its place. Love's mute.

The universe is a complete unique entity. Everything and everyone is bound together with some invisible strings. Do not break anyone’s heart; do not look down on weaker than you. One’s sorrow at the other side of the world can make the entire world suffer; one’s happiness can make the entire world smile.

The summary of the advice of all prophets is this; Find yourself a mirror.

This world is like a mountain. Your echo depends on you. If you scream good things, the world will give it back. If you scream bad things, the world will give it back. Even if someone says badly about you, speak well about him. Change your heart to change the world.

It is pointless trying to know where the way leads. Think only about your first step, the rest will come.

The whole universe is sum up in the Human Being. Devil is not a monster waiting to trap us, He is a voice inside. Look for Your Devil in Yourself, not in the Others. Don’t forget that the one who knows his Devil, knows his God.

Don’t judge the way other people connect to God; to each his own way and his own prayer. God does not take us at our word. He looks deep into our hearts. It is not the ceremonies or rituals that make a difference, but whether our hearts are sufficiently pure or not.

Every breath is a chance to reborn spiritually. But to be reborn into a new life, you have to die before dying.

The real dirt is not outside, but inside, in our hearts. We can wash all stains with water. The only one we can’t remove is the grudge and the bad intentions sticking to our hearts.

We can only learn and advance with contradictions. The faithful inside should meet the doubtful. The doubtful should meet the faithful. Human slowly advances and becomes mature when he accepts his contradictions.

Surrendering is not a weakness. At the contrary it is strength. The surrender stops living in boiling water and starts living in a secure place.

You have to live with the people in hypocrisy for them to stay happy with you.

Wherever you go, east, west, north or south, think of it as a journey into yourself! The one who travels into itself travels the world.

When I run after what I think I want, my days are a furnace of stress and anxiety; if I sit in my own place of patience, what I need flows to me, and without pain. From this I understand that what I want also wants me, is looking for me and attracting me. There is a great secret here for anyone who can grasp it.

When everyone is trying to be something, be nothing. Range with emptiness. Human should be like a pot. As the pot is hold by its emptiness inside, human is hold by the awareness of his nothingness.

Whatever happens to you... Don’t fall in despair, Even if all the doors are closed... A secret path will be there for you that no one knows, You can’t see it yet... But so many paradises are at the end of this path, Be grateful... It is easy to thank after obtaining what you want... Thank before having what you want.

It is pointless trying to know where the way leads. Think only of the first step. The rest will come.

Hell and heaven are not to be found in future, for they are now, present. When we love each other selflessly, it is real heaven, and when we are at war with each other and spread hatred that is the real hell

The whole universe is sum up in the Human Being. Devil is not a monster waiting to trap us, He is a voice inside. Look for Your Devil in Yourself, not in the Others. Don’t forget that the one who knows his Devil, knows his God.

A life without love is a waste. “Should I look for spiritual love, or material, or physical love?”, don’t ask yourself this question. Discrimination leads to discrimination. Love doesn’t need any name, category or definition. Love is a world itself. Either you are in, at the center…either you are out, yearning.

The whole universe is sum up in the Human Being. Devil is not a monster waiting to trap us, He is a voice inside. Look for Your Devil in Yourself, not in the Others. Don’t forgeT that the one who knows his Devil, knows his God.

You will learn by reading, but you will understand with love.

خـُنك آن‌را كه چشمش بخسبد و دلش نخسبد. واي بر آن كه چشمش نخسبد و دلش بخسبد

Loneliness is the representation of love. Death is compensation of love Each love is compensated by a head. It was Shams who sacrificed his head as compensation this time.

The spirit is the mirror; the body is the rust. (Divan-i-Shamsi Tabriz)

When I was a child, I saw God, I saw angels; I watched the mysteries of the higher and lower worlds. I thought all men saw the same. At last I realized that they did not see.…

اين همه عالــَم پرده‌ها و حجاب‌هاست گرد آدمي درآمده: عرش غلاف او، كـُرسي غلاف او، هفت آسمان غلاف او، كره‌ي زمين غلاف او، قالب او غلاف او، روح حيواني غلاف او، روح حيواني غلاف او، روح قــُدسي هم‌چنين – غلاف در غلاف و حجاب در حجاب، تا آن‌جا كه معرفت است

Intellect takes you to the door, but it doesn't take you into the house.

Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire! The universe turns differently when fire loves water.

No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how is it you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?

Instead of resisting to changes, surrender. Let life be with you, not against you. If you think ‘My life will be upside down’ don’t worry. How do you know down is not better than upside? A good man complains of no one; he does not look to faults. A life without love is of no account. Don't ask yourself what kind of love you should seek, spiritual or material, divine or mundane, eastern or western…divisions only lead to more divisions. Love has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is, pure and simple. Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire! The universe turns differently when fire loves water. The universe is a complete unique entity. Everything and everyone is bound together with some invisible strings. Do not break anyone’s heart; do not look down on weaker than you. One’s sorrow at the other side of the world can make the entire world suffer; one’s happiness can make the entire world smile. Most of conflicts and tensions are due to language. Don't pay so much attention to the words. In love’s country, language doesn't have its place. Love's mute

The real dirt is not outside, but inside, in our hearts. We can wash all stains with water. The only one we can't remove is the grudge and the bad intentions sticking to our hearts.

عرصه‌ي سخن بس تنگ است. عرصه‌ي معني فراخ است. از سخن بيشتر آ تا فراخي بيني و عرضه بيني

کرمکی بر سرگین می جنبد خواهد که این خدا را ببیند و بداند

هُناك أيام بِحيَاتك كُنت تَظنها لَنْ تَمُر ..كانت هَمك الكبير ..مَرت ولعلك نَسيتَها .. والآن أيضاً سَيمُر ..لاتقلَق

شیخ گفت خلیفه منع کرده است از سماع کردن. درویش را عقده ای شد در اندرون و رنجور افتاد. طبیب حاذق را آوردند نبض او گرفت، این علت ها و اسباب که خوانده بود، ندید. درویش وفات یافت؛ طبیب بشکافت گور او را و سینه ی او را و عقده را بیرون آورد؛ همچون عقیق بود. آن را به وقت حاجت بقروخت؛ دست بدست رفت به خلیفه رسید. خلیفه آن را نگین انگشتری ساخت؛ می داشت در انگشت. روزی در سماع فرو نگریست، جامه آلوده دید از خون. چون نظر کرد، هیچ جراحتی ندید؛ دست برد به انگشتری؛ نگین را دید گداخته. خصمان (اینجا بمعنی دلال ها و فروشنده ها) را که فروخته بودند باز طلبید، تا به طبیب برسید. طبیب احوال باز گفت: ره ره چو چکیده خون ببینی جایی پی بر که به چشم من برون آرد سر

قسما بالله إن معرفة هؤلاء القوم أصعب من معرفة الحق !

When a sincere woman begins to dance, the seven heavens, the earth, and all creatures begin to dance.

أعطانى الرسول عليه السلام في المنام الخرقة،و لا أعنى تلك الخرقةالتى تتمزق بعد يومين و تبلى و تلقى في التنور ، او يستنجى بها ، بل خرقة الصحبة، الصحبة التى لا يتسع الفهم لإدراكها ،الصحبة التى ليس لها ماض و حاضر و مستقبل ،أي شأن للعشق بالماض و الحاضر و المستقبل ؟

آفتاب است كه همه عالم را روشني مي دهد. روشنايي مي بيند كه از دهانم فرو مي افتد. نور برون مي رود از گفتارم در زير حروف سياه مي تابد! خود اين آفتاب را پشت به ايشان است، روي به آسمانها و روشني زمينها از وي است. روي آفتاب با مولاناست زيرا روي مولانا به آفتاب است. ورقي فرض كن يك روي در تو يك روي در يار، يا در هر كه هست. آن روي كه سوي تو بود خواندي، آن روي كه سوي يار است هم ببايد خواندن. در اين عالم جهات نظاره آمده بودم و هر سخني مي شنيدم بي سين و خا و نون. كلامي بي كاف و لام و الف و ميم و از اين جانب سخنها مي شنيدم. مي گفتم اي سخن بي حرف! اگر تو سخني پس اينها چيست؟ گفت: نزد من بازيچه. گفتم: پس مرا به بازيچه فرستادي؟ گفت: ني نو خواستي، خواستي تو كه ترا خانه اي باشد در آب و گل و من ندانم و نبينم. سنايي به وقت مرگ چيزي مي گفت زير زبان. گوش چون به دهانش بردند، اين مي گفت: بازگشتم زآنچه گفتم زآنكه نيست در سخن معني و در معني سخن

God commands us to pray in the direction of the Ka‘ba Imagine this: People all over the world are gathered making a circle around the Ka‘ba They bow down in prayer Now imagine: Remove the Ka‘ba from the middle of the circle Are they not prostrating toward one another? They are bowing down toward each other’s hearts

ادخل في ذاتك؛ابتغاء أن تشاهد حياة حقيقية لها سماء أخرى وقمر آخر. .

الكلام ينبغى أن يؤدي إلى العمل ، أما العمل ففي غير حاجة إلى كلام

نحن شخصان التقيا على نحو عجيب. و قليل جدا أن يلتقى شخصان مثلنا. واضحان جدا . و محجوبان جدا

لما أظهرت نفسي انزعجت، لا أستطيع ،لابد لى من أن أعيش هكذا

• "Love is the only force that can turn an enemy into a friend.

ما وراء هؤلاء العلماء البارزين..الذائعي الصيت بين الناس..والمحتفى بهم فوق منابر الوعظ...واللقاءات الروحية..هناك خدام الله يمشون في خفاء أكثر كمالا محبوبون حقا بعضهم ينفذ إلى أسرار البعض الآخر لكن، لا كتاب يقص حكاية هذا الحبيب.

There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe. Don’t confuse power-driven, self-centered people with true mentors. A genuine spiritual master will not direct your attention to himself or herself and will not expect absolute obedience or utter admiration from you, but instead will help you to appreciate and admire your inner self. True mentors are as transparent as glass. They let the Light of God pass through them.” - Shams Tabrizi

اعلموا أننى عاشق متفان ،و لا أتورع عن العشق . رأيت كثيرا من العارفين، و ظفرت بخدمتهم ،و عرفت الفرق بين الصادق و الكاذب ، من ناحية القول و من ناحية الحركات. و اذا لم يكن العارف محمودا جدا و مختارا فإن قلبى لا يلتفت إليه،و طائر القلب هذا لا يلتقط كل حبة. و إن نجوما كثيرة كانت تتلألأ في حياتي ،و هي جميعا إما أفلت أو توارت وراء سحب الحياة السود. أما مولانا فهو مهبط وحيي و إلهامي . لست أدﻻي ،أي بنبوع محبة هذا الرجل العظيم،ينبوع كل من شرب منه جرعة يرى في داخله شمسا ساطعة محرقة،تظهر في كانونها الحقيقة المطلقة

The sudden and total disappearance of Mawlana aroused resentment among his disciples and students, some of them becoming highly critical of Hazrat Shams, even threatening him. They believed Hazrat Shams had ruined their spiritual circle and prevented them from listening to Mawlana's sermons. In March of 1246 he left Konya and went to Syria without warning. After he left, Mawlana was grief stricken, secluding himself even more rather than engaging with his disciples and students. He was without a doubt furious with them. Realising the error of their ways, they repeatedly repented before Mawlana. Some months later, news arrived that Hazrat Shams had been seen in Damascus and a letter was sent to him with apologising for the behaviour of these disciples. Hazrat Sultan Walad and a search party were sent to Damascus to invite him back and in April 1247, he made his return. During the return journey, he invited Hazrat Sultan Walad to ride on horseback although he declined, choosing instead to walk alongside him, explaining that as a servant, he could not ride in the presence of such a king. Hazrat Shams was received back with joyous celebration with sama ceremonies being held for several days, and all those that had shown him resentment tearfully asked for his forgiveness. He reserved special praise for Hazrat Sultan Walad for his selflessness, which greatly pleased Mawlana. As he originally had no intention to return to Konya, he most likely would not have returned if Hazrat Sultan Walad had not himself gone to Damascus in search of him. After his return, he and Mawlana Rumi returned to their intense discussions. Referring to the disciples, Hazrat Shams narrates that their new found love for him was motivated only by desperation: “ They felt jealous because they supposed, "If he were not here, Mowlana would be happy with us." Now [that I am back] he belongs to all. They gave it a try and things got worse, and they got no consolation from Mowlana. They lost even what they had, so that even the enmity (hava, against Shams) that had swirled in their heads disappeared. And now they are happy and they show me honor and pray for me. (Maqalat 72) ” Referring to his absence, he explains that he left for the sake of Mawlana Rumi's development: “ I'd go away fifty times for your betterment. My going away is all for the sake of your development. Otherwise it makes no difference to me whether I'm in Anatolia or Syria, at the Kaaba or in Istanbul, except, of course, that separation matures and refines you. (Maqalat 164) ” After a while, by the end of 1247, he was married to Kimia, a young woman who’d grown up in Mawlana Rumi's household. Sadly, Kimia did not live long after the marriage and passed away upon falling ill after a stroll in the garden

في البداية لم أكن اجالس الفقهاء ، بل أجالس الدراويش، اذ كنت اقول لنفسي انهم يشعرون بالعداء تجاه الدراويش.و بعد أن عرفت ما هي الصوفية و أين هم من ذلك، أمسيت أرغب بمجالسة الفقهاء أكثر من هؤلاء الدراويش ، فالفقهاء تعبوا كثيرا و جاهدوا ، و هؤلاء الذين يدعون التصوف أين التصوف منهم ؟

من هو الإنسانُ الكامل؟ سُئل شمسٌ، فأجاب: هو الذي إذا سمع انتقادات الناس لم يُبد انزعاجًا، ولم يتميّز غضبًا! ما أسهل أن نجد مثل هذا الإنسان. -هل تظن ذلك؟ فاسمع إذن الحكاية الآتية: في مجلسٍ من مجالس الصوفية راح أحدهم يُطيل حديثه عن الأسماك، فارتاب أحدُ الجلوس بمدى معرفته وقال له متسائلاً: أتعرفُ السّمك حقًّا؟ قال الرجلُ كيف لا أعرفه وقد قضيتُ كلّ عمري في أسفار البحر! قال السائلُ: فاشرح لنا أمره وفصِّل لنا وصفه. قال الرجل: ما أسهل هذا .. السمكُ حيوانٌ شبيهٌ بالجمل وله قرنان! قال السائل: صه أيها الأحمقُ، أنت لا تفرّق حتى بين الثور والجمل، فلا عجب أن تجهل صفة السّمكِ. وهكذا هم النّاسُ في العادةِ، إنهم بلا تمييز وبلا عقل، وبناء على ذلك كلّه، قرّ الرأي مني ألا أطلب إلاّ الإنسان الكامل. قال شمسٌ وهو يُنهي حديثه: “وفكرتُ بيني وبين نفسي: لا بد أن رفيقي موجود في مكان ما على وجه هذه الأرض، فلا يُعقلُ أن العالم المحتشدُ بهذا العدد الهائل من البشر، يخلو من إنسانٍ واحدٍ فقط، وهو الذي أتمنى لقاءه.

الناس جميعهم مقلدون, فقوم منهم يقلدون الأهواء, و قوم يقلدون الصفاء, و قوم يقلدون المصطفى, و قوم يقلدون الله, و عن الله يروون. و ثمة قوم غير مقلدين أيضا, كما أنهم لا يروون شيئا عن الله , بل يتكلمون عن أنفسهم

ستكون من نصيب التيه و الترحال في بداية هذا الوجد حتى و إن كان ما تبحث عنه ليس موجودا في أي مكان

لست قادرا على أن أطلب منك السفر , لذلك سأتحمل هذا العبء من أجلك, فالفراق ينضج الروح بعد الفراق , نقول: لماذا لم أتبع أوامره ونواهيه؟ مقارنة مع ألم الفراق، كان ذلك سهلا , استطيع أن أسافر خمسين مرة من أجلك , عندما أرحل فذلك من أجلك , وإلا ما الفرق عندي بين الأناضول أو الشام مكة أو قسطنطينة لا أبالي بذلك لكن، الفراق ينضج الروح ويكمله.

مع جنونى هذا كله ،غلبت عقلاء كثيرين

أيها الأحبة ،لدى رفيق رائع،لدى مؤنس رائع، كان رجلا عجيبا،إنه محيي الدين بن عربي ، أما في المتابعة فلم يكن وفق الأصول،لم يكن لديه عين المتابعة ،هكذا كان. استفدت منه استفادة علمية و روحية كبيرة،كان دائما يقول أخطأ فلان،و بعدئذ كنت أشاهد أنه هو نفسه يخطئ،و مرات كثيرة كنت اذكر له أخطاءه،محيي الدين بن عربي ،العارف الكبير القليل النظير -أي نادر الشبه- يضطر إلى أن يطرق و يقول : أي بنى ،أتجلد بالسوط ؟

إن مولانا الرومي بحر في العلم و الفضل . لكن من الكرم أن يسمع كلام المسكين شمس . و انا اعلم ،و الجميع يعلمون ،أنه في الفصاحة و الفضل مشهور . و لا أحد في العالم يشبه مولانا إلى هذه الساعة. و في الفنون كلها ،سواء الأضول و الفقه و المنطق و النحو ،يتحدث مع أربابها بقوة المعنى ،و يكون حديثه افضل من حديثهم ،و اجمل و احسن ،ان اضطر إلى ذلك،و شاء قلبه،و لم تمنعه الملالة

إن لى من العمر تلك الساعة التى آتي فيها إلى جناب مولانا الرومى

كان بعضهم كاتبا للوحى ، و بعضهم محلا للوحى ،فاسعوا إلى أن تكونوا الاثنين معا،كتابا للوحى و محلا للوحى

إن قولا واحدا لمولانا الرومى لا يمكن أن يساويه عندنا ألف دينار. الباب الذي سد في وجهى فتح بإرشاده. و الله إنى مقصر في تعرف مولانا،و الآن و أنا هنا أعلم أي جوهر قيم كان مولانا. إن عظمة الجبل يمكن تعرفها من بعد على نحو أفضل، و لا بد من تعرف مولانا على نحو أفضل. إن وراء كلامه أشياء، و يجب طلب تلك الأشياء منه

من وجد طريقا إلى صحبتي علامته أن صحبة الآخرين تغدو عنده باردة مرة ،و لا تغدو باردة على نحو يظل فيه يصحبهم، بل على نحو لا تبقى له معهم صحبة

قل ثلاث مرات: ارحل , أيها الوهم, إن لم يذهب, عليك الرحيل. لم يذهب, و لم أرحل

ملأت قدحا, لا أستطيع الشراب, لا أستطيع الإراقة, قلبي لا يشاء أن أتحرر , أذهب

الجُبن غذاء كلب الصيد. و هل يأكل الأسد الجُبن؟ يأكل الأسد قلب الصيد و كَبِدَه, .لكل شخص غذاء

بدا وصلك عزيزا, واحسرتاه, إن العمر لا يفي , لابد من دنيا مليئة بالذهب لكي أنثر علي وصلك. عندنا الله الحي, إلى متى نجعل الله ميتا ؟ "المعنى هو الله" هو عين المعنى الذي قلناه, و عهد الله لا يفسد

What has just been said of the followers of different faiths is even more patent in their mystics. Despite the abrogation of their religions, we do not doubt the possibility of mystics of other faiths reaching a higher spiritual plane, for when the lower soul is negated and sublimated by spiritual disciplines, the powers of the higher soul seldom fail to appear, and it is not impossible that in such a condition it might behold Ultimate Reality, which is, after all, as real and objective as Detroit or anything else in the physical world. But what a difference between the few hundred Jewish, Christian, or even American Indian mystics of the Western tradition who left any record of their experiences-men and women such as Catherine of Siena, Mechthild of Magdeburg, Francis of Assisi, Moses Cordovero, Meister Eckhart, Teresa of Avila, John Tauler, Henry Suso, Jakob Böhme, Handsome Lake, Isaac Luria, Julian of Norwich, John of the Cross-and the literally thousands of Sufi masters of the Islamic tradition who founded the great mystical orders, had immense influence for centuries at all levels of society, produced an unparalleled and monumental body of mystic literature in poetry and prose, and left countless adepts in the beatitude of the Divine Presence, a living tradition that continues to this day. What other religion has ever seen a Mathnawi like Rumi’s? There is a tremendous difference between a few outstanding spiritual personalities that appeared at times and places in the West, like occasional watering places scattered across a hinterland, and the throngs of mystics of the Islamic milieu, on a sea of the Divine whose tides flooded regularly. Not only in the numbers of contemplatives, but in the abidingness of their personal experiences, there is a great difference between the mystics of Islam, who proceeded from the light of true monotheism to a state of perpetual illumination, men such as Sahl al-Tustari, al-Ghawth Abu Madyan, Shams al-Tabrizi, Ibn ‘Arabi, Abul Hasan al-Shadhili, and others whose testimony is unambiguous, and those of other faiths, who through self-mortification caught momentary glimpses of the Godhead in “experiences” they then translated to others in spiritual depositions.

The mirror is the Truth, Itself. He thinks the mirror is someone other than himself. The mirror answers anyone who addresses It. Due to the inclination of the mirror, he also has an inclination toward the mirror. If he, on the other hand, had broken the mirror, he would have broken me too. Hasn’t it been said, ‘I am near to those whose hearts have been broken’? In short, it is impossible for the mirror to bow down and honor itself. It is like a touchstone or a balance; it always inclines toward the Truth.

There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe. Don’t confuse power-driven, self-centered people with true mentors. A genuine spiritual master will not direct your attention to himself or herself and will not expect absolute obedience or utter admiration from you, but instead will help you to appreciate and admire your inner self. True mentors are as transparent as glass. They let the Light of God pass through them.” —Shams Tabrizi