Shams and Rumi, a tragic story of gay love, sorrow and pain.

Born in a wealthy family, Rumi was a noble man and a respected Muslim scholar whose family had close connections with the king. He was even above the king because the king was his student.

Shams on the other hand was a homeless dervish monk, wandering around in dirty and ragged clothes. He had no school but he was a great spiritual saint. He did not want followers or fame, he only wanted to find one person vast enough in spirit to be his spiritual companion.

There are so many versions of how Rumi met Shams. But here's the most interesting one.

In the middle of the 13th century, Rumi was reading his books near a pool, when a man in ragged and dusty clothes interrupted him and asked:

"What are you doing?"

“Something you cannot understand”. Rumi replied.

Suddenly, The man moved toward him and threw all of his books into the pool.

Rumi yelled at him angrily, "What are you doing?"

Rumi immediately took the books out of the water but to his great surprise, they were all dry. He surprisingly asked: “What is this?”

“Something you cannot understand”, said

That man in dirty and ragged clothes was no one else but Shams. Shams had traveled the Middle East searching for a soul friend, a person who could be his spiritual companion.

It is said that he heard a voice that guided him saying, “The one you seek is Muhammad Rumi of Konya."

After this meeting, Rumi and Shams became inseparable and lived together for many months. Rumi could no longer focus on his students or teaching. He found books meaningless. Meeting Shams made him see God in everything. Meanwhile, Shams found what he had been looking for all his life. They became very close in such a short time.

It was no secret Rumi's students and colleagues were jealous of Shams. Shams unlike Rumi wasn't from an elite class. He was a homeless wanderer, a great scholar yes, but still poor. Rumi was the number one citizen of Konya. He was even respected more than the ruler of the region.

Even though Rumi did everything in his power to keep Shams with him, As time went by things started to get worse for Shams. Until one day one of Rumi's followers confronted Shams. After many arguments for and threats repeatedly, Shams left the city without even saying goodbye to Rumi. So, the first union between Rumi and Shams ended at this point.

Rumi was devastated after losing Shams. His world crumbled around him. He walked the town like a mad man. As time flew by, his mental and physical health got even worse.

A year passed. Rumi put out reward notices for any news of Shams. Not long after, a rumor came that Shams has been seen in Damascus. Rumi immediately sent his son Sultan Walad to find and bring shams back to Konya.

Sultan Walad found Shams in Damascus and begged him to return. He told Shams that his father is dying. He told him everyone in the city is sorry. Rumi's colleagues, students, and even the merchants are all sorry for the discomfort they have caused Shams.

And finally, Shams agreed to return.

When Rumi and Shams met for the second time, they fell into each other's arms weeping.

Rumi shook his head and asked Shams,

“What have you been doing?”

“The same thing you would have done,” said Shams.

“Why did you leave me?” asked Rumi.

Shams looked at him and said, “Why didn’t you hear my silent cries and follow me?”

“I was so desperate, I am still very angry at you! Do you realize what you put me through?” Rumi said.

Shams said, “Do you realize, beloved, what you asked me to do?”

Rumi cried “I asked you nothing!”

Shams replied, “You asked me without words to help you change your life, and so I did! Look at you now. Forget your sorrow, Rumi. I am home."

Shams had returned and Rumi was cheerful but jealousy grew once again in the community.

It only took a couple of weeks for Rumi's family and followers to overcome their guilt. People were saying we should have waited a couple of more months, our master Rumi would have certainly forgotten Shams. The threats against Shams started once again but he stayed because of Rumi.

One night when Shams and Rumi were talking late into the night, There was a knock on the door and muffled voices calling to Shams. He went to answer the door. In the darkness, a knife hit Shams with the force of hate.

When Shams did not return, Rumi called his name. No response came. "Has Shams left me again?" Rumi thought.

Rumi went to the door. There was no one. The body disappeared. Rumi wandered for months but thinking shams has left but no one could find him.

History tells us that the body of Shams was never found, that's because the whole town, including the police, approved his killing and intentionally didn't take the investigation seriously. Rumi never found out what happened to Shams.

Rumi couldn't bear the painful separation from Shams and expressed his emotions through poetry. He wrote 3,000 poems for Shams, expressing his love and devotion for him. Shams means sun in Arabic, and interestingly, the 'Sun' is one of the most used subjects in Rumi’s verses

In Damascus, Rumi searched every street, alley, and shadow. No one had seen Shams. He wandered the marketplace lost in despair.

Initially, he realized there was nothing to chase because there was nothing to catch. Shams was with him, in him. Rumi left Damascus and returned to Konya. His search was over. He found Shams in his soul.

The outcome of Shams and Rumi's relationship is that Shams made Rumi known to history. Rumi found guidance and love by shams.

Meanwhile Shams achieved his dream of finding a spiritual companion. They loved each other and paid dearly for it.

In my opinion, Shams and Rumi were deeply in love but, sadly, they might have never admitted It, even to themselves that they love each other for the fear of society.