Hazrat Shams was sat near a tree in Konya, when Mawlana Rumi rode past on a mule.
Mawlana Rumi was a respected scholar - he رحمه الله was followed by many students and admirers at this time.
Hazrat Shams walked up to Mawlana رحمه الله and took the mule's bridle in his hand.
Hazrat Shams then asked Mawlana Rumi رحمه الله, "Who was the greater servant of Allah... The prophet Muhammad ﷺ or Hazrat Bayazid Bastami رحمه الله?"
Mawlana Rumi رحمه الله replied that Muhammad ﷺ is incomparably the greater - of all the prophets and greater than all the saints.
But Hazrat Shams challenged yet again with "'Then how is it that Muhammad ﷺ said, "We have not known Thee, O God, as Thou ought to be known," whereas Bayazid رحمه الله said, "Glory unto me! How great is my glory."?'
The former, humble comment suggests a distance from Allah Ta'ala, and upon hearing this, Mawlana Rumi fainted at its audacity.
Upon regaining consciousness, Mawlana Rumi رحمه الله finally responded to the question ...
"Bayazid spoke of his spiritual thirst being quenched with one drink, yet Rasulullah's ﷺ thirst was never quenched, so he ﷺ kept seeking, thus being drawn closer and closer to Allah."
Upon hearing this sublime response, Hazrat Shams fainted. When Hazrat Shams woke, he was invited to the home of Mawlana Rumi.
This was the start of their history-defining friendship.
