SHAMSI. The most northern district of the range, extending to the neighbourhood, of Tripoli, is occupied by a sect of idolaters called Ansari. A spacious plain, open to the sea on the west, extends north as far as Tortosa, and is bounded on the east by the Ansari mountains. This chain is a lower branch of the Libanus, but is less known than most parts of this celebrated mountain, being inhabited by the lawless Ansari tribe, who have never been brought into actual subjection by any of the Pashas. Of their sects, the Shamsi are said by some to worship the sun, but the origin of this people and their religion are still unknown. Like the Druses, they may possibly be a Muham Madan sect. Burckhardt mentions the Ansari sects, calling them Kelbye, Shamsye, and Mok ladjye. The Ansari are the least numerous of the Lebanon tribes, their number in 1840 not exceeding 20,000 souls.
SHAMS-i-TABRIZ, Sufi philosopher, was the teacher and spiritual guide of Jalal-ud-Din. It is related that Jalal's father, Baba Walad, had a disciple, who for some reason gave offence to Shams-ud-Din ; the latter in punishment inflicted a deafness on both the disciple's ears. After a time Shams pardoned the offender, and restored shis hearing. But the man bore him a grudge in his heart nevertheless. One day Shams said to him, Friend, I have pardoned thee : wherefore art thou still cast down ? Be comforted.' Not withstanding this, his rancour remained. One day, however, he met Shams in the midst of a market. Suddenly he felt a new faith glow within him, and he shouted out, "There is no deity MVO God ; Shams-ml-Din is the apostle of I:oil One of the market people came forward to cut him down, but Shams uttered so terrific a shout that the man at once fell down dead. The rest of the market people submitted. Shams now took the disciple by the hand and led him away, remarking to hint, Ify good friend, my name is Mahomed. Thou shouldst have shouted,
"Mahomed is the apostle of God." The rabble will not take gold that is not coined.' Shams-ud Din's arrogance and violence at length brought him into difficulties, for he was arrested during a tumult which his followers had raised, and removed by the police. All his pupil Jalal's miraculous powers failed to fiud out his where abouts after this. He is said to have been flayed alive at Multan, and over his supposed remains a magnificent shrine has been erected. Tradition ascribes the intense heat of Multan to his prayer, from which the sun descended from the heavens to cook his food. Burton says the Mohan people slew him in order to have his body among them.
SHAMS-ud-DIN ALTAMSH was purchased by Kutub-nd-Din Aibak for 50,000 pieces of silver. He rose through different offices to be governor of 13eltar at the Dine of the revolt, A.D. 1211, A.H. 607. Taj-nd-Diu Eldoz gave him investiture unasked, but subsequently made an atteinpt to establish himself in India, and wa.s defeated and taken prisoner (A.D. 1215, A.il. 612), ending his days in confinement. His reign was marked by the approach of the Moghuls under Chengiz Khan, but after withdrawal he conquered Sind to the south of Tatta (A.D. 1225, A.H. 622), also Behar and Bengal. In the next six years (A.D. 1226, A.n. 623, to A.D. 1232, A.H. 630) he was employed reducing Hindustan, taking Rin tambor, Mandu, Gwalior, Bhilsa, and Ujjain. He died at Dehli, April 1236, 20th Shaban 633. Ile had received investiture from the khalif of Baghdad. The author of the Jama-ul-Hikayat resided at his court. The Kutub Millar near Dehli was completed in his reign. He was succeeded by his son Rukn-ud-Din, turd then his daughter, Razzia Begum. —Elphin. p. 322.