Warriors of Love

This is a remarkable piece of work which explores and unravels the spiritual dimensions of the bond of friendship between Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rumi and Shams of Tabriz. The book has a long and insightful introduction comprising Rumi’s childhood and upbringing, Shams’ background and his eventual meeting with Rumi in a much detailed and lucid manner. The author mainly explores Rumi’s quest to reach union with the Absolute. The writer appears to be moved by the idea of the perfect friendship, as he presents instances of friendship from different mythologies, literature, and history. He has attempted to make the readers realize the ‘nobility of friendship’ by giving the examples of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, Achilles and Patroclus, Robinson Crusoe and Friday, and of two soldiers ready to die for each other in the trenches of Somme. The common ground among these examples related to the military tradition appears to be rooted in the Western imagination. There is not even the slightest doubt that the idea of such friendship where one is always disposed towards giving one’s life for another, as exemplified by the noted author, is found between Rumi and Shams. But one equally important aspect of this pious relationship between Murshid (teacher) and Murid (student), escapes the attention of the author. The term, Murshid, got currency in the Sufi tradition from its very beginning. The relationship between Murshid and Murid is often marked by spiritual knowledge and training, rather than mere friendship.