EXPLORING THE INFLUENCE OF LITERATURE TO TRANSFORM ONE’S LIFE IN ELIF SHAFAK’S THE FORTY RULES OF LOVE

Authors

  • Meram S.S. Mohamad 1Dept. of English Language, College of Education and Languages, Lebanese French University, Kurdistan Region –Iraq.
  • Ala B. Ahmed Dept. of English Language, College of Education and Languages, Lebanese French University, Kurdistan Region –Iraq.
  • Zhin S. Majeed Dept. of English Language, College of Education and Languages, Lebanese French University, Kurdistan Region –Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26436/hjuoz.2025.13.3.1577

Keywords:

Forty Rules of Love, Elif Shafak, Bibliotherapy, Sufism, Rumi

Abstract

The concept of love is more than just emotions, it is a journey of self-discovery, healing and exploring the world through one’s soul. Elif Shafak’s international best-selling novel, The Forty Rules of Love (2009) has been a topic of interest for scholars for its exploration of love and Sufism. This article examines the protagonist’s journey for personal recovery of spiritual love and healing which is connected with the dynamics of her domestic relationship. The novel’s main character’s journey named Ella Rubinstein who is a dedicated mother; after reading the manuscript of Sweet Blasphemy she rethinks her life and her choices which transforms her life. Through the perspectives of Sufism and Bibliotherapy, Shafak demonstrates how the sole acts of reading and understanding the wisdom of mysticism can heal the inner wounds of self, leading to spiritual awakening. Mysticism as a spiritual path that seeks direct union with the divine goes beyond the basic comprehension of the mind solely, it engages the ultimate reality the soul, to understand the inner experience, intuition and transformation. This article explores how literature can serve as a mirror to the real world and be used as a powerful tool for personal growth. Furthermore, it examines the novel from a Sufistic and therapeutic lens, it sheds light on the transformative power of finding love for being and the profound impact of bibliotherapy.

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References

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Published

2025-09-28

How to Cite

Shekh Mohamad, M., Ahmed, A. B., & Majeed, Z. S. (2025). EXPLORING THE INFLUENCE OF LITERATURE TO TRANSFORM ONE’S LIFE IN ELIF SHAFAK’S THE FORTY RULES OF LOVE. Humanities Journal of University of Zakho, 13(3), 543–551. https://doi.org/10.26436/hjuoz.2025.13.3.1577

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2025): July-September

Section

Humanities Journal of University of Zakho

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Copyright (c) 2025 Meram S.S. Mohamad , Ala B. Ahmed , Zhin S. Majeed

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