A story that changed my life - an exceprt taken from Elif Shafak's novel The For

ty Rules of Love
Shams murmured, as if talking to himself, The Quran is like a shy bride. Shell open
her veil only if she sees that the onlooker is soft and compassionate at heart.
Then he squared his shoulders and asked, Which verse is it?
Al-Nisa, I said. There are some parts in it where men are said to be superior to wo
men. It even says men can beat their wives
Is that so? Shams asked with an exaggerated interest that I couldnt be sure whether
he was serious or teasing me. After a momentary silence, he broke into a soft s
mile and out of memory recited the verse.
Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel oth
ers and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore o
bedient, guarding the unseen as Allah had guarded; and (as to) those whose part
you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in sleeping-places and b
eat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them, surely Allah is
High, Great.
When he finished, Shams closed his eyes and recited the same verse, this time in
a different translation.
Men are the support of women as God gives some more means than others, and becaus
e they spend of their wealth (to provide for them). So women who are virtuous ar
e obedient to God and guard the hidden as God has guarded it. As for women who f
eel averse, talk to them suasively; then leave them alone in bed (without molest
ing them) and go to bed with them (when they are willing). If they open out to y
ou, do not seek an excuse for blaming them. Surely God is sublime and great.
Do you see any difference between the two? Shams asked.
Yes I do, I said. There whole texture is different. The former sounds if it gives c
onsent for married men to beat their wives, whereas the latter advises them to s
imply walk away. I think that is a big difference. Why is that?
Why is that? Why is that? Shams echoed several times, as if enjoying the question.
Tell me something, Kimya. Have you ever gone swimming in a river?
I nodded as a childhood memory returned to me. The cold, thirst quenching stream
s of the Taurus Mountains crossed my mind. Of the younger girl who had spent man
y happy afternoons in those streams with her sister and her friends, there was n
ow a little left behind. I turned my face away and I didnt want Shams to see the
tears in my eyes.
When you look at a river from a distance, Kimya, you might think there is only on
e watercourse. But if you dive into the water, youll realize there is more than o
ne river. The river conceals various currents, all of them flowing harmony and y
et completely separate from one another.
Upon saying that, Shams of Tabriz approached me and chin between his two fingers
, forcing me to look in his dark soulful eyes. My heart skipped a beat. I couldnt
even breathe.
The Quran is a gushing river, he said. Those who look at it from a distance see only
one river. But for those swimming in it, there are four currents. Like differen
t types of fish, some of us swim closer to the surface while some in deep waters
below.
Im afraid I dont understand, I said, although I was beginning to.
Those who like to swim close to the surface are content with the outer meaning of
the Quran. Many people are like that. They take verse too literally. No wonder w
hen they read a verse like the Nisa, they arrive at the conclusion that men are
held superior to women. Because that is exactly what they want to see.
How about the other currents? I asked.
Shams sighed softly, and I couldnt help noticing his mouth, as mysterious and inv
iting as a secret garden.
There are three more currents, the second one is deeper than the first, but still
close to the surface, as your awareness expands, so does your grasp for the Qura
n. But for that to happen you need to take the plunge.
Listening to him, I felt both empty and fulfilled at the same time.
What happens when you take the plunge? I asked cautiously.
The third undercurrent is esoteric, batini, reading. If you read the Nisa with yo
ur inner eye open, youll see that verse is not about women and men but about woma
nhood and manhood. And each and every one of us, including you and me, has both
femininity and masculinity in us, in varying degrees and shades. Only when we le
arn to embrace both can we attain harmonious Oneness.
Are you telling me that I have manliness inside me?
Oh, yes, definitely, and I have a female side, too.
I couldnt help chuckle. And Rumi? How about him?
Shams smiled fleetingly. Every man has a degree of womanliness inside.
Even the ones who are manly men?
Especially those, my dear, Shams said, garnishing his words with a wink and droppi
ng his voice to a whisper, as If sharing a secret.