"Love cannot be explained. It can only be experienced. Love cannot be explained, yet it explains all" "

"Eternity does not mean eternal time, but simply timelessness"

 "Every true love and friendship is a story of unexpected transformation. If we are the same person before and after we loved, that means we haven't loved enough"

"You can study God through everything and everyone in the universe, because God is not confined in a mosque, synagogue"

"If you want to change the way others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself"

 "Patience does not mean to passively endure"

Summary:

This book delivers a parallel fiction set throughout distinct cultures and periods. Despite their differences, the narratives exist alongside one another, creating a unique and interconnected experience of reading

Ella is a woman with three kids(Jeannette, Orly, and Avi) and a seemingly happy marriage. She is forty years old. Her life isn’t as perfect as it appears. Her marriage has grown distant and frigid. She feels a void in her role as a housewife. She concedes an opportunity as a reviewer for a literary agency and gets assigned to read a book called "Sweet Blasphemy" by a person named Aziz Zahara.

"Sweet Blasphemy" describes the story of the friendship between dervish Shams and Rumi. It unveils a profound thought of affection, faith, and the awakening of consciousness. Sweet blasphemy focuses on the five natural elements : Water,Air,Earth,Fire and void

Rumi is a preacher. He is a dervish who is known for his provocative teachings. Shams has a profound understanding of sufism. After their meeting, Shams and Rumi quickly develop a powerful bond. Shams becomes Rumi's spiritual guide, encouraging him to go beyond conventional practices and embrace a more profound, mystical view of spirituality and love. 

This relationship changes Rumi,transforming him from a religious preacher into a passionate poet. 

 Other Characters:

‘Suleiman The drunk’

There was a man named Suleiman, who was drunk all the time. People used to hate him. One day, Shams met with him. Shams of Tabriz approached him profoundly. After that, he changed his mind.

Lessons

• Seeing the divine in everyone

•  Non-judgemental attitude 

• Breaking Traditional Norm

• Be compassionate 

• Empathetic & showing kindness

• Balancing spirituality with personal life and taking Societal responsibility is crucial. Prioritising both is important

Criticism

'Desert Rose'

★ The most important thing is to purify the soul, and it creates a connection to the divine. In this story the writer explained inner purity is more important than outward Identity. I strongly disagree with this. I think both are equally important 

Beggar 

A man who begs to detach himself from arrogance and inner ego.This story seems illogical to me. It's far away from practical! 

 Thoughts:

 The Western Media often creates misconceptions about Islam. People think it removes freedom. Apart from that, if a non-muslim reads this book, he or she will get a deeper understanding of Islam. The author deeply represents religion without limiting it. She explained how the worldly life separated us from spirituality and the path of the divine. By surrendering yourself to the Creator, you are humble and self-aware. I love the writing style of Elif Shafak. Her storytelling is so captivating.  I've been reading it for 1.5 months. When I started the book, the philosophy aligned with mine. The author represents religion as a personal philosophy, which triggered me multiple times. The book is filled with philosophical concepts. I read, Ipause, then I repeat. There are many questions in my mind that there is no specific answer. These things are like food for thought. I might try her other books.