medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I have been half paying attention to the birds, but this morning I was reading
and essay on "Philosophy, Theology, and Mysticism," by Georges C. Anawati in
_The Legacy of Islam_ 2nd. ed. Ed. Joseph Schract with C. E. Bosworth (Oxford:
Clarendon, 1974). Anawati says, "...a certain number of typical allegories,
which frequently appear in the writings of the mystics [Muslim mystics or
Sufi's], also have their source in the Koran: fire and the clarity of God; the
veils of light and darkness placed upon the heart; the bird, symbol of
resurrection (or rather of the immortality of the soul)...
However, using my memory and the USC's searchable version of "The Noble Koran,"
an excellent translation, I cannot entirely support this with examples. I do
find, however, that 'birds' in the Koran seem to be more than what we think of
as birds because they are grouped with men and jinn.
027.017 And before Solomon were marshalled his hosts,- of Jinns and men and
birds, and they were all kept in order and ranks. And there were gathered
together unto Solomon his armies of the jinn and humankind, and of the birds,
and they were set in battle order; And his hosts of the jinn and the men and
the birds were gathered to him, and they were formed into groups.
They appear at times to be warriors.
022.031 Being true in faith to Allah, and never assigning partners to Him: if
anyone assigns partners to Allah, is as if he had fallen from heaven and been
snatched up by birds, or the wind had swooped (like a bird on its prey) and
thrown him into a far-distant place. Turning unto Allah (only), not ascribing
partners unto Him; for whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, it is as if he had
fallen from the sky and the birds had snatched him or the wind had blown him to
a far-off place. Being upright for Allah, not associating aught with Him and
whoever associates (others) with Allah, it is as though he had fallen from on
high, then the birds snatch him away or the wind carries him off to a
far-distant place.
And frequently the birds are called upon to praise God.
034.010 We bestowed Grace aforetime on David from ourselves: "O ye Mountains!
Sing ye back the Praises of Allah with him! and ye birds (also)! And We made
the iron soft for him; And assuredly We gave David grace from Us, (saying): O
ye hills and birds, echo his psalms of praise! And We made the iron supple unto
him,
But as Meg's first questions was, "First, I´m looking for primary or secondary
literature on the use of birds as symbols of souls (departing the body of the
dead, etc.)," there is secondary literature saying that birds symbolize the
soul, but I am not sure that there is primary literature [to wit: the Koran]
where, the birds are symbols "of resurrection (or rather of the immortality of
the soul)"
But, of course I would be interested if anyone can take any of this further.
V. Kerry Inman
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|