In Poem No. 18 from English Book III, 1st Year, titled “Love – an Essence of All Religions” by Jalaluddin Rumi, the poet beautifully encapsulates the transformative power of love across various facets of life. Through love, even the sharpest thorns take on the delicate beauty of roses, and what was once bitter vinegar becomes sweet wine.
Love has the miraculous ability to turn adversity into advantage, as misfortune is transformed into good fortune. It is through love that a stake can become a throne, and even the fiercest fire can metamorphose into a pleasing light. In love’s embrace, even anger appears as a form of mercy, and what was once as hard as stone becomes as soft as butter.
Love has the capacity to transmute grief into boundless joy, making even the mightiest lions appear harmless, and turning sickness into vibrant health. Love is the essence of resurrection, breathing life into the very dead, and it can humble even the mightiest king to the role of a humble servant. Dr. Nicholson’s translation of Rumi’s verses beautifully captures the profound and universal message that love is the cornerstone of all religions, transcending boundaries and connecting us all through its transformative power.