The Forty Rules of Love

Books often function as lighthouses to the voyagers who are looking for a safe harbor.

In my reading life, most of the books have come across as markers of a new beginning, or pointers towards a new direction. The Forty Rules of Love is not different from this.

Elif Shafak's renowned novel, The Forty Rules of Love is a wonderful rendering of the life of one of the most celebrated poets across history : Jalaluddin Rumi. This very name ports us to the beautiful oeuvre of the classic poet and the less familiar worlds of mysticism and Sufism.

Here are a few questions that the book asks us: How do you define spirituality? What's the role of spirituality in a common man's life?

Intriguingly, each individual comes up with a unique answer to this question. Because each person has a unique experience and understanding of life. Let us take a minute to thank modern education and freedom of thought which enabled us to create such unique individual answers.

Let us come back to the book. The novel delineates the companionship between Rumi and Shams-e-Tabrizi. Tabrizi acts as a guide to Rumi to initiate him into the world of the Sufi. What is most striking about the book is the titular forty rules of love taught by Tabrizi to Rumi. The simple principles which can liberate one from worldly fears and concerns leave the reader elated. The first rule mentioned in the book is: “How we see God is a direct reflection of how we see ourselves. If God brings to mind mostly fear and blame, it means there is too much fear and blame welled inside us. If we see God as full of love and compassion, so are we.” This was a liberating thought for Rumi. 

Rule 18 discusses self-love. “If you want to change the way others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself. Unless you learn to love yourself, fully and sincerely, there is no way you can be loved.” The significance of this rule is that there are millions, especially among females, who offer themselves in service of their beloved, completely forgetting their own need for love and care. Rule 24 states that “Hell is in the here and now. So is heaven. Quit worrying about hell or dreaming about heaven, as they are present inside us at this very moment. Everytime we fall in love, we ascend to heaven. Every time we hate, envy or fight someone, we trumble straight into the fires of hell.” The essence of relationships is captured in this.

Ms. Renjitha. K. R 

Asst. Prof. of English 

Al Shifa College of Arts and Science, Kizhattoor, Perinthalmanna.