Rule 17……The whole universe is contained within a single human being-you. Remember only in another person’s heart can you truly see yourself…. But eventually it is the best to find a person who will be your mirror. Solitude is better for us, as it means being alone without feeling lonely. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself into believing that you are on the right path.

Rule 6….Loneliness and solitude are two different things. That which cannot be put into words can only be grasped through silence. When you step into the zone of love, language, as we know it becomes obsolete. Rule 5….Most of problems of the world stem from linguistic mistakes and simple misunderstanding. Intellect is always cautious and advices, ‘Beware too much ecstasy’, whereas love says, ‘Oh, never mind! Take the plunge!’ Intellect does not easily break down, whereas love can effortlessly reduce itself to rubble. Intellect ties people in knots and risks nothing, but love dissolves all tangles and risks everything. Rule 4…….Intellect and love are made of different materials.

Meet, challenge and ultimately prevail over your nafs with your heart. Make your heart your primary guide! Not your mind. Rule 2….The path to the Truth is a labour of the heart, not of the head. The source of Shams' teachings was the knowledge of Ali ibn Abu Talib, who is also called the father of sufism.”Įxcerpts from Shams of Tabriz’s 40 Rules of Love…. Shams was a sun ('Shams' means 'Sun' in Arabic) shining the Light of Sun as guide for the right path evading darkness for Rumi's heart, mind, and body on earth. As the years passed, Rumi attributed more and more of his own poetry to Shams as a sign of love for his departed friend and master. “After several years with Rumi in Konya, Shams left and settled in Khoy. The tomb of Shams-i Tabrīzī was recently nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tradition holds that Shams taught Rumi in seclusion in Konya for a period of forty days, before fleeing for Damascus. (Persian: شمس تبریزی‎‎) (1185–1248 AD) is credited as the spiritual instructor of Mewlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhi, also known as Rumi and is referenced with great reverence in Rumi’s poetic collection, in particular Diwan-i Shams-i Tabrīzī (The Works of Shams of Tabriz).

Shams tabrizi and rumi