Elif Shafak's forty rules of love presents the solution to combat terrorism

Abstract

In Elif Shafak's Forty Rules of Love, the writer delivers the message that Sufism, which is based on accepting variance and pluralism, is the key to terminate the continuing ideological and religious clashes. In order to combat the increasing hazard of religious extremism, sectarianism, and dogmatism that are the main causes of terrorism, there is a terrible need to find a way of life which operates on the basis of inclusion and shuns exclusion. Shafak believes that Sufism provides such a way of life. The novel calls people to embrace the religion of God's love rather than any other dogmatic religion. The novel calls for love, tolerance, patience, and many other tenets that the human being should follow in order to lead a happy life. In this novel, Sufism is not presented as a theoretical and hypothetic instruction. Instead, it is vigorous, breathing, and transmitting a placid energy that can obstruct terrorism