The Forty Rules of Love

Kimya. Konya, August 17, 1245. Kimya feels neglected as Rumi no longer takes time to study with her. She resents Shams for taking Rumi away from her, even as a part of her is intrigued and wishes to know Shams better. One day, she goes to Rumi’s room and is surprised to see Shams there instead, praying by the window. She hurries to leave, but he invites her to stay.

Shams recites two different translations from the Qur’an about the relationship between men and women. One suggests men should guard women while another suggest that they should support women. Kimya agrees how the first translation seems to give men more authority in marriage than the second, which is more ambiguous. Shams compares the Qur’an to a gushing river and says that while many only skim the surface, it’s important to understand the deeper currents. Kimya is intrigued by Shams’s insights, and she leaves the room imagining what it would feel like to be kissed by Shams, blushing.