Rules? Or Love?

In his introduction to THE BOOK OF RUMI, Johnathan Star writes, “The goal of Sufism is to know love in all of its glorious forms; and every prophet, every practice, and every form of worship that leads toward love is, in essence, Sufism.” He subsequently quotes philosopher Ibn Arabi who wrote:

I follow the religion of Love
and go whichever way His camel leads me.
This is the true faith;
This is the true religion.

“...the religion of Love...” What an interesting way to put the view that Love is the god, the “true faith” and “true religion.” As a boy in the Lutheran church, I was taught that “God is Love.” How many of us define our faith by the love we show? Conversely, how many of us define our faith, or others’ faith as we perceive it, by the required behaviors and rules, and how they’re followed?

Last year, during Ramadan, I had lunch at a Persian restaurant, and I asked how it was that Muslim restaurateurs could serve meals during the time of fasting. I received the obvious answer: Some Muslims do not observe the rules that would prevent them from doing their work. Others, Muslims and non-Muslims, may judge that behavior as disobedience of the rules.

I thought about some of the other religious rules I know. For example, according to the Torah, Jews are supposed to avoid all work on the Sabbath: “Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.” (Exodus 35:2) Heard of any such deaths lately? Perhaps this rule is too strict to be enforced rigidly?

Then there’s the rule about selling your daughter into slavery: “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do.” (Exodus 21:7) Know anyone who’s sold his daughter, or even been permitted to sell his daughter, into slavery? What loving father would ever do such a think?

Christians learn that women are to be silent in the church, and be obedient to their husbands: "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in church." (I Corinthians 14:34-35) I prefer that women NOT keep silent in church, as some of my best teachers in churches (and out) have been women. As for obedience, both the Bible and the Qur’an contain rules about that.

More important, Christians are to love God and one another. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40) I know that I don’t obey these commandments completely. And I suspect that many of us make judgments about our neighbors’ love for God and one another too.

My point here is simply this: Ibn Arabi’s writing that, “Love is the true faith and true religion” is quite obviously what Jesus commands us to do. I’m sure Jesus would have endorsed Arabi’s words. Perhaps, after all, Jesus was a Sufi?