Pareeshe Fatima
The Forty Rules of Love is a novel penned by the Turkish author Elif Shafak. Shafak’s interest in crafting this book was inspired by her academic background in Gender and Women’s Studies. The novel was first published in March 2009 and centers around the story of Maulana Jalal-Ud-Din, also known as Rumi, and his companion Shams Tabrizi. The narrative delves into how Shams influenced a scholar to transform into a Sufi (mystic) through the power of love. The book gained significant popularity, with over 750,000 copies sold in Turkey and France.
The story within the novel unfolds across two parallel narratives set in vastly different cultures and spanning 700 years. It commences as a housewife named Ella comes across a book titled Sweet Blasphemy for an evaluation. This book delves into the life of Shams Tabrizi, a spiritual teacher to Rumi during the 13th century, and explores Shams’s Forty Love Rules at various points. The structure of Sweet Blasphemy is based on the five elements of nature: Water, Air, Earth, Fire, and Void, with each section unveiling a story reflective of the nature of the respective element. The novel profoundly explores themes of love and spirituality, offering insights into following one’s heart.
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An interesting feature of the book is that each chapter begins with the letter “b”. This choice is rooted in the belief that the secret of Quran lies in Surah Al-Fatiha, with its essence encapsulated in the phrase Bismillah ir Rehman ir Rahim (In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent and the most Merciful). The first Arabic letter of the Bismillah carries a dot below it, symbolizing the Universe according to Sufi philosophy.
The Forty Rules of Love received significant acclaim, winning the Prix ALEF – Mention Spéciale Littérature Etrangère and earning a nomination for the 2012 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Additionally, it was recognized by BBC News, being listed among the 100 most influential novels and included in the “Love, Sex & Romance – February” category of Novels That Shaped Our World.
The theme of “The Forty Rules of Love” revolves around love and spirituality. The novel delves into the transformative power of love, as it explores the relationship between the 13th-century scholar Rumi and his spiritual mentor, Shams Tabrizi. It also examines the contemporary story of a housewife, Ella, who undergoes her own personal transformation as she reads about the love and spiritual teachings of Shams and Rumi. The book offers profound insights into the nature of love, the search for spiritual enlightenment, and the impact of following one’s heart. Additionally, the novel touches upon the concept of the universe according to Sufi philosophy and how the teachings of love can transcend time and culture.
