‘The Forty Rules of Love’ is a novel
by Turkish author Elif Shafak, published in 2009.
The book, beautifully written, is about Maulana Jalal-Ud-Din, known as Rumi, and his companion Shams Tabrizi, their meeting and relationship.
It is said that Rumi was a professor who was transformed into a poet under the influence of Shams, who was a wandering Dervish. Shams believed in universal love as opposed to dogmatic religion. Whether Shams actually wrote ‘The Forty Rules of Love’ is debatable, but Elif Shafak’s work embodies his philosophy and the text develops the various themes as a way of living with greater, more expansive Love.
To give a different perspective, here you will find a 9 minute, imaginative ‘deep dive’ podcast discussing ‘The Forty Rules of Love’ and their relevance to modern life.
