Interpretation of the Seventeenth Rule of Love

Rule Number 17 — Real faith is the one inside. The rest simply washes off. There is only one type of dirt that cannot be cleansed with pure water, and that is the stain of hatred and bigotry contaminating the soul. You can purify your body through abstinence and fasting, but only love will purify your heart.

– Shams, to the Brothel Owner

Context - This rule emerges when Shams is walking through the city of Konya and arrives at a brothel. The brothel owner asks him to leave, reminding him that as a dervish he should not visit such places. Shams shares this insight with the brothel owner when he notices a harlot and remarks that one day she will leave that place in pursuit of her spiritual journey.

Interpretation within the Story - This rule serves as a benchmark to understand the difference between morality and spirituality. Society may consider it morally inappropriate to visit a brothel, but a truly spiritual person remains open and receptive to all. Such a person does not draw distinctions between a sacred place and a brothel. For him, the Divine exists everywhere and within everyone.

The rule also emphasizes that the purity that truly matters is the purity of the soul, not the outer body. Even if the body is engaged in actions that are considered impure, there is nothing to fear if the soul remains pure and connected to the Divine.

Deeper Interpretation Beyond the Story - This rule highlights that the division between the inner and outer worlds is created by the mind. When a person’s inner being is pure and connected to the Divine, their actions naturally become good and virtuous. Otherwise, one can only appear good, which is merely an act.

Therefore, the focus should be on inner transformation rather than outward behavior. When the soul is pure, a person cannot act wrongly; whatever they do aligns with truth.

However, if the inner self is filled with hatred, contempt, greed, and bigotry, then no matter how one presents oneself outwardly, it remains a façade.

Hence, the real work lies in cleansing the inner self rather than the outer body. And there is only one way to achieve this purification — through pure, Divine love.

This rule ultimately conveys the importance of being good from within, rather than merely appearing good from the outside.

Gratitude!!!