Rumi's Sun: The Teachings of Shams of Tabriz

by Shams Tabrizi, Refik Algan (Translator), Camille Hamilton Adams Helminski (Translator)

Rumi’s Sun collects many lessons and discourses from Shams of Tabriz, the Sufi mystic and spiritual master who was the catalyst for Rumi’s awakening. His teachings and insights inspired much of Rumi’s poetry and are still celebrated today by all Sufi. Translated by two noted students of Sufi, Shams’ timeless teachings are presented here in their traditional order. Through the book, readers discover the teachings that made Rumi dance and gain access into Sufi traditions and the power of mystical love.

Genres: Poetry, Islam, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy, History, Religion

442 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2008

About the author

Shams-i-Tabrīzī (Persian: شمس تبریزی‎‎) or 'Shams al-Din Mohammad' (1185–1248) was a Persian poet and 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). Tradition holds that Shams taught Rumi in seclusion in Konya for a period of forty days, before fleeing for Damascus. The tomb of Shams-i Tabrīzī was recently nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Reviews

[Nazmi Yaakub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maulana Shamsuddin Tabrizi atau Shams al-Tabriz sentiasa menjadi ‘watak’ enigma hingga diberikan personafikasi sebagai antinomian kepada pembaca Barat terutama aliran New Age. Tidak hairanlah watak seperti Shams sentiasa menjadi ikon dalam dunia Barat khususnya Amerika yang mencari kerohanian tanpa agama.

Bagaimanapun membaca Maqalat yang diterjemah sebagai Rumi’s Sun: The Teachings of Shams of Tabriz oleh Refik Algan dan Camille Adams Helminski ini, pastinya mengukuhkan Shams al-Tabriz seperti juga Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, dalam lingkungan Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (ASWJ). Sekiranya Rumi bermazhab Hanafi, Shams pula bermazhab Shafie, tetapi ia menjadi gangguan dalam perjalanan mereka menuju cinta hakiki, iaitu mengenal Allah SWT.

Hal itu jelas dapat dibaca dalam buku ini, seperti juga karya ulama ahlillah lain termasuk Sheikhul Akbar, Ibnu Arabi. Sekiranya kita membacanya dengan pandangan alam Islam holistik, kepelbagaian lafaz dan bentuk tulisan mereka, memiliki roh yang sama - hakikat kewujudan mutlak Allah SWT, kepapaan kita sebagai makhluk dan perjalanan kepada penyaksian tauhidik dan cinta hakiki kepada Tuhan.

Tidak hairanlah, tulisan Shams al-Tabriz seperti juga Rumi tidak berbeza seperti yang kita baca dalam karya ulama sufi muktabar seperti Imam Abu Qasim Muhammad al-Junaid dan Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali.

Maqalat asalnya pengajaran yang diberikan Shams al-Tabriz dan direkodkan secara bertulis tetapi penterjemah menyusunnya dalam bentuk perenggan dan seksyen memiliki judul. Ini memudahkan kita sebagai pembaca.

Sebenarnya, membaca buku ini juga ibarat menyusuri perjalanan Shams al-Tabriz dengan Rumi dalam anekdot yang menjadi bahagian daripada fragmen hubungannya dengan Rumi, selain tentunya kisah ahli sufi dan cerita rakyat yang memang biasa ditemukan dalam penulisan genre sufi.

Saya sarankan buku ini dibaca berganding dengan buku mengenai Rumi seperti Rumi - Past and Present, East and West: The Life, Teachings, and Poetry of Jalal al-Din Rumi karya Franklin D Lewis, dan tentunya Mathnawi sendiri. Begitu juga boleh membaca buku Manaqib al-Arifin yang ditulis Ahmad Aflaki, iaitu pengikut cucu Rumi- Manaqib al-Arifin turut diterjemah Helminski bersama Susan Blaylock sebagai Rumi and His Friends: Stories of the Lovers of God Excerpts from the Manaqib al-'Arifin of Aflaki.

[Fusun Dulger charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

As you can see from the date I started and the date I finished how long it took me to read this book. I am usually a fast reader finishing even the most complicated books in a month or less.
This book was one of the most difficult book to read and most probably I will read it again one day.
Each talk or Shams's reflections need to be digested, understood, some of them read and reread. Then one needs to close the book,and ruminate some more.
Extremely difficult book to read and digest but worth the while if you are a Sufi, lover of Rumi and if you love Rumi you of course have to love Shams.

[Fusun Dulger charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely love all books written by Camille Halminski but I found this book difficult to read. I am sure it is more my shortcomings than the content of the book. I intend to reread it to see if I can penetrate it more. Sometimes one reads a book when not receptive to:it.

[DropOfOcean · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s tough to give two stars to this book. I absolutely love Rumi and beforehand I was sure I was going to love Shams as well. But reading this book turned out to be a struggle. Partly because often I didn’t quite understand the message of some story. Sometime I did but just plainly disagreed with his view. Every now and then there was some good stuff, some gems, but overall they felt too far and between. Shams seems more condemning, critical, moody than what I expected. Perhaps his style of presentation just didn’t work well with me.

[Kinza Noor · Rating 5 out of 5]

words are nothing....the valley of meanings is broader indeed. I've tried to learn from your teachings..

[Devi · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Bb
Hm
Hmm
Gnk
FJ
Yi
Wgh
Plj
Kloo
Ollo
I'll
I'll
Set
Dry
Egg
Egg
Dfg
Uyt
Thb

.

[SUMAYLA KHAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked this book a lot But I want to read this book in full