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51 pages 1 hour read

Elif Shafak

The Forty Rules of Love

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009

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Part 4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 4: “Fire, The Things That Damage, Devastate, And Destroy”

Part 4, Chapter 1 Summary: “Suleiman the Drunk, Konya, February 1246”

Suleiman is in the tavern having a drink when he is astounded to see Rumi walk in. Rumi sits and speaks with the patrons for a while before Suleiman asks why drinking is prohibited in Islam. Rumi answers him, explaining that wine shows the softness of kind people but the violence of angry people and suggests that most people are angry, rather than kind. Ultimately, though, Rumi says that choosing to drink or not drink is up to the individual. The patrons of the tavern are pleased to hear this and Rumi leaves with his untouched wine bottles.

Part 4, Chapter 2 Summary: “Aladdin, Konya, February 1246”

Aladdin is making plans for how he will ask his father for Kimya’s hand in marriage when Rumi walks into the house with the wine bottles. Aladdin is surprised by this and becomes angry when Shams tells Aladdin to not pass judgment on Rumi, and that it was Shams who sent Rumi to get the wine. When Aladdin says he is not surprised by this, Rumi lifts his arm as if to strike him but does not, instead only saying that Aladdin has shamed him. Aladdin is horribly embarrassed by this, even more so when he realizes that