EUR  â¬162.00EUR  â¬135.00 excl. VAT
Politics, Poetry, and Sufism in Medieval Iran
New Perspectives on JÄmÄ«âs SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
Series: - Studies in Persian Cultural History, Volume: 5
Author:
In Politics, Poetry, and Sufism in Medieval Iran Chad Lingwood offers new insights into the political significance of poetry and Sufism at the court of Sulá¹Än YaâqÅ«b (d. 896/1490), leader of the Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ«. The basis of the study is SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl, a Persian allegorical romance âAbd al-RaḥmÄn JÄmÄ« (d. 898/1492), the great Timurid belletrist and Naqshbandi Sufi, dedicated to YaâqÅ«b. Lingwood demonstrates that SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl, which modern critics have dismissed as âcrudeâ and âgrotesque,â is a sophisticated work of political and mystical advice for a Muslim ruler. In the process, he challenges received wisdom concerning JÄmÄ«, the Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ«, and Perso-Islamic advice literature. Significantly, the study illustrates the extent to which JÄmÄ«âs compositions integrated the Timurid and Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« realms.
Chad G. Lingwood, Ph.D. (2009), Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, is Assistant Professor of History at Grand Valley State University. He has published articles in Iranian Studies (2011) and Journal of Persianate Studies (2011).
"Lingwoodâs study of SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl represents a valuable and significant contribution to many areas of scholarly interest. In Politics, Poetry, and Sufism he develops the approach of Maria Eva Subtelny, whose studies of KÄÅ¡ifÄ«âs AḫlÄq-i MuḥsinÄ« have similarly demonstrated a complex interplay of ethical-political, mystical and historical meanings. Indeed, Lingwood adds to the growing number of studies that demonstrate the specificity of mirrors for princes, notwithstanding the camouflage within which they often appear. By reference to contemporary and near-contemporary writings in various genres, he shows by the example of SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl the precise meanings that mirrors carried for their audiences, regardless of the timeless and universal appearance of many of the materials deployed in their presentation. By means of a thorough, careful and thoughtful study of an important work of Persian poetry, Lingwood sheds light on numerous aspects of the milieu for which it was written."
L. Marlow in Bulletin critique des Annales islamologiques 30, 2014.
L. Marlow in Bulletin critique des Annales islamologiques 30, 2014.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Note on Transliteration and Style
Epigraph
Introduction
Chapter One: APPROACHING JÄMĪâS SALÄMÄN VA ABSÄL AS A PERSOISLAMIC BOOK OF ADVICE FOR RULERS
The Narrative Context of SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
The Provenance of the SalÄmÄn and AbsÄl Allegory
Ibn SÄ«nÄâs Version of the Allegory
SalÄmÄn and AbsÄl in Ḥayy ibn YaqáºÄn
Coded Speech: The Overall Power of Allegory
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl, an Esoteric Mirror for Princes
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl and the MasnavÄ« of RÅ«mÄ«
The Historical Significance of SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
Overview of the Primary Sources
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl by JÄmÄ«
Other Persian Poetry Addressed to YaâqÅ«b
Official Court Chronicles and General Histories
Hagiographies and Biographical Works
Literary Anthologies
Letters of Personal Correspondence
Statement of Purpose
Chapter Two: POLITICAL ADVICE FOR RULERS AND MYSTICAL GUIDANCE FOR SUFIS IN SALÄMÄN VA ABSÄL
The Perso-Islamic Tradition of Advice and Advice Literature
Political Advice for Muslim Rulers in SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
Being the Shadow of God on Earth
On Heeding the Prayers of the Sufis
Implicit Spiritual Advice for Rulers and Sufi Mystics
Advice on Illuminating the Intellect
The Role of Repentance in Attaining Mystical Enlightenment
Advice on Subduing the Carnal Soul
Chapter Three: THE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL INFLUENCES OF SUFIS AT THE ÄQ QOYŪNLŪ COURTS OF ŪZŪN ḤASAN AND YAâQŪB
Dervishes, Sufi Mystics, and the Political Legitimacy of Ūzūn Ḥasan
The Role of the AkhlÄq-i JalÄlÄ«
KhalvatÄ« Influence on Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Affairs
Shaikh ĪbrÄhÄ«m GulshanÄ« at the Court of YaâqÅ«b
NaqshbandÄ«s at the Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Court, Tabriz, and Its Environs
The Murder of DarvÄ«sh QÄsim
The Spiritual Relationship between JÄmÄ« and YaâqÅ«b
Chapter Four: POETRY AT THE COURT OF YAâQŪB AND ITS BACKGROUND IN ESTABLISHING AN HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR
SALÄMÄN VA ABSÄL
Literary Activities in Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Tabriz
JÄmÄ«, the âÄq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Poetâ
The Hasht bihisht and Its Roster of âLesser-knownâ Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Poets
QÄżī âĪsÄ SÄvajÄ«: Reform-Minded VazÄ«r, Poet, and Ill-fated Lover
QÄżī âĪsÄâs Banishment from Court and His Tell-tale Poetry
Glimpses of YaâqÅ«b and His Troubles
Brotherly Discord in the Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Household
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl as Art Imitating Life
Chapter Five: A THEOSOPICAL INTERPRETATION OF SALÄMÄN VA ABSÄL AND ITS RELEVANCE TO ITS HISTORICAL SETTING
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl and the MasnavÄ« of RÅ«mÄ«
Love and the Imprint of the Theosophy of Ibn al-âArabÄ«
Aspects of the Visionary Experience in SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl as an Historical Allegory
Symbols of YaâqÅ«b and His Court in SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
Allusions to NaqshbandÄ« Spiritual Techniques in SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
The Date of Completion of SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
Conclusion
Appendix One. JÄMĪâS EPISTOLARY REPLY TO YAâQŪB
Translation
Appendix Two. JÄMĪâS SALÄMÄN VA ABSÄL
Translation
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
Note on Transliteration and Style
Epigraph
Introduction
Chapter One: APPROACHING JÄMĪâS SALÄMÄN VA ABSÄL AS A PERSOISLAMIC BOOK OF ADVICE FOR RULERS
The Narrative Context of SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
The Provenance of the SalÄmÄn and AbsÄl Allegory
Ibn SÄ«nÄâs Version of the Allegory
SalÄmÄn and AbsÄl in Ḥayy ibn YaqáºÄn
Coded Speech: The Overall Power of Allegory
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl, an Esoteric Mirror for Princes
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl and the MasnavÄ« of RÅ«mÄ«
The Historical Significance of SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
Overview of the Primary Sources
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl by JÄmÄ«
Other Persian Poetry Addressed to YaâqÅ«b
Official Court Chronicles and General Histories
Hagiographies and Biographical Works
Literary Anthologies
Letters of Personal Correspondence
Statement of Purpose
Chapter Two: POLITICAL ADVICE FOR RULERS AND MYSTICAL GUIDANCE FOR SUFIS IN SALÄMÄN VA ABSÄL
The Perso-Islamic Tradition of Advice and Advice Literature
Political Advice for Muslim Rulers in SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
Being the Shadow of God on Earth
On Heeding the Prayers of the Sufis
Implicit Spiritual Advice for Rulers and Sufi Mystics
Advice on Illuminating the Intellect
The Role of Repentance in Attaining Mystical Enlightenment
Advice on Subduing the Carnal Soul
Chapter Three: THE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL INFLUENCES OF SUFIS AT THE ÄQ QOYŪNLŪ COURTS OF ŪZŪN ḤASAN AND YAâQŪB
Dervishes, Sufi Mystics, and the Political Legitimacy of Ūzūn Ḥasan
The Role of the AkhlÄq-i JalÄlÄ«
KhalvatÄ« Influence on Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Affairs
Shaikh ĪbrÄhÄ«m GulshanÄ« at the Court of YaâqÅ«b
NaqshbandÄ«s at the Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Court, Tabriz, and Its Environs
The Murder of DarvÄ«sh QÄsim
The Spiritual Relationship between JÄmÄ« and YaâqÅ«b
Chapter Four: POETRY AT THE COURT OF YAâQŪB AND ITS BACKGROUND IN ESTABLISHING AN HISTORICAL CONTEXT FOR
SALÄMÄN VA ABSÄL
Literary Activities in Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Tabriz
JÄmÄ«, the âÄq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Poetâ
The Hasht bihisht and Its Roster of âLesser-knownâ Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Poets
QÄżī âĪsÄ SÄvajÄ«: Reform-Minded VazÄ«r, Poet, and Ill-fated Lover
QÄżī âĪsÄâs Banishment from Court and His Tell-tale Poetry
Glimpses of YaâqÅ«b and His Troubles
Brotherly Discord in the Äq QoyÅ«nlÅ« Household
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl as Art Imitating Life
Chapter Five: A THEOSOPICAL INTERPRETATION OF SALÄMÄN VA ABSÄL AND ITS RELEVANCE TO ITS HISTORICAL SETTING
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl and the MasnavÄ« of RÅ«mÄ«
Love and the Imprint of the Theosophy of Ibn al-âArabÄ«
Aspects of the Visionary Experience in SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl as an Historical Allegory
Symbols of YaâqÅ«b and His Court in SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
Allusions to NaqshbandÄ« Spiritual Techniques in SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
The Date of Completion of SalÄmÄn va AbsÄl
Conclusion
Appendix One. JÄMĪâS EPISTOLARY REPLY TO YAâQŪB
Translation
Appendix Two. JÄMĪâS SALÄMÄN VA ABSÄL
Translation
Bibliography
Index
All interested in late medieval and early modern Islamic history, especially anyone concerned with fifteenth-century Iran, classical Persian literature, Sufism, and Islamic political philosophy.