Maulana Rumi, the renowned Persian poet and Sufi mystic, once encountered a touching scene in a bustling bazaar. As he observed a shopkeeper serving a middle-aged woman, he witnessed an act of profound love that left a lasting impression on him. This encounter led to Maulana Rumi’s realization about the essence of unconditional love and its connection with devotion to Allah. Inspired by this incident, he penned forty principles of love, including the principle of “unquestioning obedience.” This story serves as a timeless reminder of the purity and boundlessness of true love.
As Maulana Rumi strolled through the bazaar, he noticed a shopkeeper engrossed in serving a middle-aged woman. The shopkeeper seemed captivated by her every gesture, as she pointed to items in the shop. Without hesitation, he fulfilled her desires, placing various goods in her bag as directed. There was no apparent exchange of money or weighing of items – it was an extraordinary display of trust and affection.
The woman finally concluded her shopping, and the shopkeeper offered to deliver the goods to her home. Astonished, Maulana Rumi inquired about the relationship between the two. The shopkeeper respectfully revealed that she was the maid of a wealthy family. Intrigued by the shopkeeper’s actions, Maulana Rumi questioned why he didn’t weigh the items or take payment.
With sincerity, the shopkeeper disclosed that he was deeply in love with the woman. When one is truly in love, counting and calculations become irrelevant. Overwhelmed by his feelings, he had lost himself in the bliss of love, making no demands or expectations. This heartfelt revelation left Maulana Rumi in awe.
Deeply moved by the shopkeeper’s profound love, Maulana Rumi recognized his own shortcomings in expressing love for Allah. While he diligently counted beads during tasbih, nafl prayers, and Quranic verses, he realized the true essence of love was beyond counting and measuring. The shopkeeper’s actions exemplified the purest form of devotion, devoid of any demands or expectations.
Inspired by this enlightening encounter, Maulana Rumi, along with his mentor Hazrat Shams Tabriz, penned the forty principles of love. Among these principles was the profound lesson of “unquestioning obedience.” Love for Allah entails absolute surrender and gratitude, without calculations or expectations.
Maulana Rumi’s realization transformed his approach to love and devotion. He conveyed to his disciples that Allah’s blessings were bestowed without counting, and thus, they should express gratitude without measuring. This unconditional love is a reflection of the divine love from which humanity can draw immense spiritual strength.
The bazaar encounter between Maulana Rumi and the shopkeeper left an indelible mark on the poet’s heart, inspiring him to delve deeper into the nature of true love and its connection with devotion to Allah. The lesson of “unquestioning obedience” serves as a timeless reminder for believers to embrace love without conditions and to express profound gratitude for every blessing, echoing the boundless love of God.