Those interested in the realm of Molana must be people of the heart!
The writer and researcher in literature said: “If we want to say it in general, not everyone interested in the realm of Molana is suitable for it. One must be a person of the heart and patient enough to dive deep into Molana’s thoughts. In this regard, what we see is good, and sometimes a number of concerned individuals come to Molana, while some fulfill their own desires.”
Zahra Gharibian Lavasani, referring to the growing interest in Molana in society these days, said: “The Molana fever, like many previous trends, is now visible, and it doesn’t have a particular reason. People approach Molana for various reasons; some are concerned with understanding how Molana lived, others are seeking a fresh perspective, and some view the relationship between Shams and Molana through a sentimental lens. So much so that some readers and cafes in the United States have started paying attention to Molana.”
The author of the book Bagh-e Sabz-e Eshq (The Green Garden of Love) explained that this book tells the story of Molana’s life and continued: “If we want to say it in general, not everyone interested in the realm of Molana is suitable for it. One must be a person of the heart and patient enough to dive deep into Molana’s thoughts. In this regard, what we see is good, and the fact that concerned individuals are coming to Molana and some are fulfilling their own desires is also fine.”
This literary researcher emphasized that publishers bring books to the market based on people’s desires and added: “A book like The Forty Rules of Love (written by Elif Shafak) was brought to the market and became a bestseller for this very reason. People can read The Forty Rules of Love as a beautiful work, but this book cannot familiarize people with the life of Shams or his perspective. The 40 rules attributed to Shams in this book are not truly from Shams; they are the author’s imagination.”
She added: “Kimiya Khatoon, written by Saeedeh Ghods, has been reprinted several times. Saeedeh Ghods has a strong pen, but she has a feminist perspective on Molana’s subject and approaches it with a biased and confrontational stance; for example, she sees Shams as a magician. Meanwhile, we have great thinkers from whom we can gain insights. This is why most people don’t have the patience to read the Masnavi, which consists of over 21,000 verses.”
Molana gains a fresh perspective through his meeting with Shams.
Gharibian Lavasani emphasized that in her classes and in Bagh-e Sabz-e Eshq, she has tried to present Molana in the simplest form: “I tried to have a simple and delicate narrative of Molana, because we see that the society becomes averse to this matter when they read difficult texts. At the same time, while some people are concerned and some young people feel suspended, we must create a connection for them with the spiritual world of Molana and other great literary figures.”
Shams approaches Molana because his character is inseparable from his thoughts.
The author of Bagh-e Sabz-e Eshq pointed out that the book covers Molana’s life from birth to death and added: “Molana, through his meeting with Shams, gains a new perspective because Molana is someone whose thoughts are inseparable from his way of life. Shams approaches Molana because Molana’s character is inseparable from his thoughts. This can be connected to the mind of a young person who seeks the need for a spiritual guide and perhaps cannot find it in many places.”
This researcher, who has 17 years of teaching experience in the field of the Masnavi, said: “In these 17 years, I have tried to teach the Masnavi in different forms. In recent years, my perspective has become more self-reflective. For today’s audience, it is not necessary to be familiar with all parts of the Masnavi; rather, we try to introduce them to parts they can use in their lives.”
She added: “This is why I didn’t write the book in a difficult way. It is important for me that what I present is simple, so that both teenagers and elderly people can benefit from it.” /IRNA
