True Friendship

To the sound of the rebap and ney (violin and flute), Shems spoke of friendship and divine love. On one occation he informed Rumi, ‘A true friend must be as mysterious as God. He must tolerate his friend’s ugliness and faults, and not be offended by his mistakes. He must not turn away from him nor accuse him. Just as God’s compassion leads him to forgive His subjects for their failings, He sustains him with an all -embracing kindness and compassion. This is the nature of unprejudiced and impartial friendship.’ Cowan, J. (1992) from the introduction to Rumi’s Divan of Shems of Tabriz Rockport, MA: Element (p.16).