Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi
Rumi's lyric collection dedicated to his spiritual teacher Shams-i Tabrizi.
The Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi is a collection of lyric poems written by the Persian poet and Sufi mystic Rumi. Compiled after his death by his students, the work contains over 40,000 verses, including more than 3,000 ghazals, along with tarji-bands and quatrains. Most poems are in Persian, though some are in Arabic, and a few are bilingual, incorporating Turkish and Greek. The poems were largely composed in the wake of the disappearance of Rumi’s beloved spiritual teacher, Shams-i Tabrizi, whom Rumi met in Konya in 1244. Prior to this meeting, Rumi had no background in poetry. Shams introduced him to music, sung poetry, and dance through Sufi samas. After Shams vanished in 1248, Rumi wrote poems praising him and lamenting his loss. Most of the Divan’s poems likely date from around 1247 and the following years, as Rumi processed his grief; seventy poems were written after he confirmed Shams’ death. Rumi signed many of his ghazals with the pen names Khâmush (Silence) or Shams-i Tabrizi. His style is ecstatic and trance-like, differing from other professional Islamic poets, and he found traditional ghazal metres constraining. Though not a didactic work like Rumi’s Masnavi, the Divan explores deep philosophical themes of love and longing. Some scholars argue Rumi rejected longing in favor of divine unity, signing poems under Shams’ name to repudiate separation. Others see a universalist “Religion of Love” in his verses, distinct from a strictly Islamic outlook.
- author
- Rumi (Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi)
- field
- Sufi poetry, Persian literature
- nationality
- Persian
- known_for
- Collection of lyric poems dedicated to Shams-i Tabrizi
- languages
- Primarily Persian
Lore & Background
The Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi is a collection of lyric poems by Rumi, a Persian poet who lived in Konya. Rumi wrote in Persian, and his work is part of the broader Persian literature tradition, which includes poets such as Ferdowsi, Saadi, Hafez, Attar, Nizami, and Omar Khayyam. The 13th century marks the ascendancy of lyric poetry with the consequent development of the ghazal into a major verse form, as well as the rise of mystical and Sufi poetry. This style is often called Araqi (Iraqi) style and is known by its emotional lyric qualities, rich meters, and the relative simplicity of its language. The most prominent masters of this school are Rumi, Saadi, and Hafiz Shirazi. Regarding the tradition of Persian love poetry, Persian historian Ehsan Yarshater notes that 'as a rule, the beloved is not a woman, but a young man.' In the early centuries of Islam, young men, slaves or not, served wine at banquets and receptions, and it was love toward young pages, soldiers, or novices which was the subject of lyrical introductions to panegyrics and of the ghazal.
Reader's Guide
The Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi is a major work of Persian Sufi poetry from the 13th century, a period that marks the ascendancy of lyric poetry and the rise of mystical and Sufi poetry. Rumi is one of the most prominent masters of this school, along with Saadi and Hafiz Shirazi. The work contains ghazals, a major verse form that developed during this era. The poetry is characterized by emotional lyric qualities, rich meters, and relative simplicity of language. Rumi was inspired by poets such as Sana'i and Attar. Some of Attar's and Rumi's works are also grouped in the didactic genre, although they are sometimes classified as lyrical due to their mystical qualities. The Divan's themes of love and longing reflect the tradition of Persian love poetry, where, as Ehsan Yarshater notes, the beloved is typically a young man rather than a woman.
Did You Know?
- Rumi was born in Balkh (in modern-day Afghanistan) or Wakhsh (in modern-day Tajikistan) and lived in Konya (in modern-day Turkey).
- Persian literature is described as one of the great literatures of humanity, including Goethe's assessment of it as one of the four main bodies of world literature.
- The 13th century marks the ascendancy of lyric poetry and the rise of mystical and Sufi poetry, with Rumi as one of its most prominent masters.
- According to Persian historian Ehsan Yarshater, in Persian love poetry 'as a rule, the beloved is not a woman, but a young man.'
- Rumi was inspired by earlier poets Sana'i and Attar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi?
It is a collection of lyric poems composed by the Sufi poet Rumi (Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi). The work is dedicated to his spiritual teacher, Shams-i Tabrizi, whose influence profoundly shaped Rumi's poetic voice.
Who is Rumi and where did he come from?
Rumi was born in Balkh (modern-day Afghanistan) or Wakhsh (modern-day Tajikistan) and later settled in Konya, the Seljuk capital in Anatolia, which is in present-day Turkey. He wrote primarily in Persian and is celebrated as one of the most beloved poets in the Persian literary tradition.
Why is the collection called 'Shams-i Tabrizi'?
The title honors Shams-i Tabrizi, the wandering dervish who became Rumi's spiritual guide and the catalyst for his poetic transformation. Rumi dedicated the entire lyric collection to him as a tribute to their transformative teacher-student bond.
What literary tradition does the Divan belong to?
It sits within Persian literature, a tradition spanning more than two and a half millennia. Rumi's Sufi lyric poetry is regarded as one of the great literary achievements of humanity, a view echoed by figures such as Goethe.
What language is the Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi written in?
The poems are composed primarily in Persian, the classical language of Sufi and courtly poetry across Central Asia and the wider Islamic world. This places the work squarely within the broader Persian poetic canon rather than the Turkish tradition of Rumi's adopted homeland.
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