Volume 12. December 2011 Transcendent Philosophy
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in the realm of the illuminated spirit lightened up by the divine light.
4 ناور ور ه د ه / ن ز ناد اد ا ٥ One way of illuminating the spirit is to perform and take care of Tawhid (attesting to the Oneness of God): ناور ور د ا / م ند ار وا ن د ن زا / د د ا زا ه / ا د ا و ٦ 324 Seyed G Safavi The Prophet Jesus, the son of Mary, was also chosen as the Messenger of God after his spirit was illuminated: اد و ناور ور / د اد و م ه / م ز زا ٧ The speech in praise of intellect Contrary to the belief of some researchers who considered Ferdowsi as being against intellect 8 , he in fact was a supporter of intellect but, more specifically, intellect which was connected to the supreme intellect and illuminated by the divine light. Of course, Ferdowsi believes the particular reason is incapable of understanding metaphysical truth and of seeing things in their true light. He sees intellect as the guide in both lives and praises theoretical as well as practical intellect. Carnality and lustfulness lead intellect astray: ا ه دد د و / ا ا د ها ٩ The learned and the “discerning-heart” are theologian sages who are grateful of God (the principle of righteousness of the universe): د س ار ن لد و / س ن راداد ز دراد ١٠ Ferdowsi’s viewpoint is similar to Sheikh Eshragh (Sheikh Shahabuddin Sohrevardi) and it is clear that both are heirs of mystical, ancient and Islamic wisdoms. According to Ferdowsi, the signs of the health of practical intellect are: ز و داد / ا و داد د ن م و ار و ر ه د / ب م او و Tolerance; avoiding inappropriate deeds; abstaining from haste; vanity and arrogance; patience; compassion; knowing the value and dignity of others; not paying attention to worldly glitter and glamour; talking in Mysticism of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh An International Epic, Mystical and Sagacious… 325 appropriate time; socializing with wise friends; consulting; and obeying and thanking God (the principle of righteousness of the universe): As God's best gift to thee extol the worth Of wisdom, which will comfort thee and guide, And lead thee by the hand in heaven and earth. Both joy and grief, and gain and loss, betide Therefrom, and when it is eclipsed the sane Know not of happiness one moment more. Thus saith the wise and virtuous man of lore Lest sages search his words for fruit in vain:- "What man so ever spurneth wisdom's rede Will by so doing make his own heart bleed; The prudent speak of him as one possessed, And 'he is not of us' his kin protest." In both worlds wisdom recommended thee When gives are on the ankles of the mad; It is the mind's eye; if thou dost not see Therewith thy journey through this world is sad. It was the first created thing, and still Presideth o'er the mind and faculty Of praise - praise offered by tongue, ear, and eye, All causes it may be of good or ill. To praise both mind and wisdom who would dare? And if I venture, who would hear me through? 11 The flame that purifies the heart In order to receive the truth, the heart must go through fire and burn the personal ego (nafsaniat) with its flames, so that the heart becomes the exclusive site for the presence of the divine splendour, and so that human existence can be illuminated with the divine light, which in turn purifies the heart. In the story of Bijan and Manijeh, the fire is the secret to purifying the ego. To join the truth is only possible by travelling the “Path” (Tarighat) and going through a series of stages. Self transcendence is a spiritual journey which must be taken step by step. “Seven stages (labours) of Rostam” is an allegorical story about traversing the “Path” to reach the truth. This story is further developed 326 Seyed G Safavi in Attar Neishabouri’s book, Manteq at-Tayr (The Conference of the Birds), and is told through the voice of birds. One important and contemplating point is that all these stars of Iran’s spiritual culture - Ferdowsi, Sanai Ghaznavi, Attar Neishabouri and Rumi- are from Khorasan (a province in north west of Iran), sharing the same spiritual horizon. Another commonality between these sages is their insistence on the elixir of kindness: د هر زا / د ه آ زو د ه زا / د رز ه زو Tawhid (There is no God but God) and Wahdat al-Wujood (Unity of Being) The kernel of Shahnameh’s teachings is “Tawhid” and “Wahdat al- Wojood”. Ferdowsi, three centuries before Sheikh Mohiudin ibn al- Arabi, proposed the important mystical doctrine of “Wahdat al- Wojood”: و ار ن / ه ه ا ا ١٢ The God of pure universe is one and the creator of the world. He is superior to thought and no one has access to understanding his essence. But he is with his creatures everywhere. All good qualities, in their supreme form, exist in him. He lends a hand to the fallen man, he is the sender of the Messengers to guide his creatures and he is the owner of the Judgment Day. Guardians and mendicants (Dervishes) are under his special protection: ن وا / ن ار ا و ه راد وا / د ا و ه ١٣ ا ند ر زور ز / ا داد ن د ا ر و ر / ا را ر ت ا ور ن ه ر / ه ن ه ١٤ Mysticism of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh An International Epic, Mystical and Sagacious… 327 Humble call to and the benediction of the Creator of the Good In Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, prayer which is the silent amorous prayer of the authentic poor and the affluent alike, resolves calamity and brings about wishes. In Shahnameh, all the champions and nobles, such as Keykhosrow, Kavous, Rostam, Goodarz, have, under dire circumstances, been defeated and have fallen in the battlegrounds. Moaning and lamenting, they all asked the Creator, the Originator of the Good, to show them the way to salvation. Keykhosrow’s Benediction: و ا ا و وا / سر د ناد ه هار ر زا دو / ور د و ه و ه / هار داد ا و رد / د و ناور ن / ار ن ب / ب د و د ه ن و ز خر ناوا / ر د ا ه ١٥ Parabolic and Mysterious Aspects The real and fictional characters of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh have found parabolic and mysterious expressions in Iranian mystical tradition. One example is the “Story of Phoenix,” whose visit became the goal and purpose of the spiritual travellers of the “Path” (Tarighat). Several works on this theme have been published, such as Attar’s “Mantegh O Tair.” Stories such as, “Seven Labours of Rostam,” “Phoenix,” “Jam-e Jam,” “Bijan and Manijeh,” “Keykhosrow,” “Eskandar” and “Iraj” are all the summits of mysticism in Shahnameh. In Shahnameh, inner struggles and battles among different forces of ego are illustrated in meticulous and artistic detail. These forces include: the battle between the mind, passion and wrath; detriments of ego; moral vices and virtues; characteristics of the overman; the battle between the army of Good and Evil; and finally, issues of compassion and loyalty. And there are “Iraj,” “Siavash,” “Keykhosrow,” and “Zal,” who are the mystical heroes in Shahnameh. “Keyomars,” Fereydoun,” “Zal” and “Rostam” belong to the army of light and are symbols of a pious and pure human. 328 Seyed G Safavi On the other hand, “Ahriman” (The Devil), “Afrasiab” and ‘Zahhak” represent the army of darkness and are symbols of a human enslaved to his ego. In the battle between good and evil, between light and darkness, ultimately, with the help of the Almighty and the aid of the sheikh and the wise-man, the army of goodness and light will finally prevail. In Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, Light and darkness and good and evil exist at both individual and social spheres. The mystical, social and epic teachings of Shahnameh are components that set it prominently apart from other mystical works. Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh is a vast/colossal play about people’s lives from their height to their low, and from heaven to hell wherein divine light and wisdom are their guide. The central theme of the play is human’s constant battle with inner and outer demons. The human’s place in this play is sometimes in hell, meaning when the demon wins over the human; in purgatory, symbolizing the human’s battle with the demon; or his place at times is in heaven, which signifies the victory of the human over the demon. Ferdowsi and Shi'ism Ferdowsi is a devout Shia Muslim who openly and candidly expresses his adoration and exaltation for the Holy Prophet’s infallible household. Ferdowsi believes the only ship to salvation is that of Imam Ali (a.s.), the Holy Prophet’s household (Ahl al-Bayt), and of his followers. Ferdowsi, in his famous poem “Slave of the Prophet's slaves with praise I greet/The dust upon his mandatary's feet” demonstrates his devotion to the teachings of the Holy Prophet’s household and to the guardianship and leadership of Imam Ali (a.s.) Slave of the Prophet's slaves with praise I greet The dust upon his mandatary's feet, What others say to me is no concern, This is my way, from this I never turn. The sage regardeth as a sea this world, A sea whose waves are driven by the blast; Thera seventy gallant ships go sailing past, Mysticism of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh An International Epic, Mystical and Sagacious… 329 Each with her canvas every stitch unfurled. One stately vessel is in bridal gear, As beauteous as the eye of chanticleer. Muhammad and 'Ali are there within That stately vessel, they and all their kin. The sage beholding from afar that sea Of viewless shore and depth, and ware that he Must face the waves where all must drown, "If I Shall go down with Muhammad and 'Ali," He saith, "I sink in goodly company, And surely He will rescue me from ill, Who is of standard, crown, and throne the Lord, The Lord of wine, of honey, and of rill, Of founts of milk and floods which spread abroad.' If on the other world thou fix throe eyes Keep close beside the Prophet and 'Ali, And, should ill follow, lay the blame on me, Who take myself the course that I advise. In this Faith was I born, in this will die; The dust upon the Lion's foot am I. fhy heart, if prone to err, is thine own foe, And can the world more abject miscreants know Than haters of 'Ali, for born in shame Are they, and destined to eternal flame? Take not this world in jest, but walk with those Whose steps are right; right as thine end propose If thou wouldst be with men of glorious name. Why do I talk so long? I fail to see A limit to my theme's fertility. 16 In the above verse, Hakim Ferdowsi describes the ship of salvation floating in a stormy sea, where the God’s Messenger (Prophet Muhammad s.w.a.), Imam Ali, and his descendants are. The wise is sure that if he seeks refuge in the ship, those two loyal friends will save him from drowning. Ferdowsi, with his charismatic and epic style, identifies himself as the dust beneath the shoes of Haydar (Furious Lion: one of Imam Ali’s titles). He calls Imam Ali “The Gate to the City of Knowledge,” “noble companionship,” “The Care Taker of the God’s Messenger,” “The God of the stream of wine and honey,” “the fountain 330 Seyed G Safavi of milk and pure water,” and one whose obedience will bring about the salvation in both worlds. 17 Conclusion Recited in poetic and parabolic language, and based on the flourishing culture of pre and post Islamic Iran, Hakim Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh is Iran’s mystical-epic masterpiece. In addition to being the most thriving literary work in Persian language, it also contains sublime mystical knowledge. Yet, there has been less attention to the mystical aspects of Shahnameh. It is extremely praiseworthy that scholars familiar with Iranian literature and mysticism conduct research on the different mystical dimensions of Shahnameh in their Masters or PhD dissertation. Bibliography - Azmayesh, Mostafa, Mysticism Path with Ferdowsi to Land of Phoenix, Tehran, 1380 Solar. - Eslami-Nadoushan, Mohammad Ali, Green Garden of Love, Tehran, 1378 Solar. - Ferdowsi, Abul-Qasim, Shahnameh, Seyyed Mohammad Dabir Siaghi, Jalal Khaleghi-Motlagh, Gharib, Bertels (Tehran, Moscow Edition). - Mashkour, Mohammad Javad, Phoenix and its Role in Iranian Mysticism, Tehran, 1356 Solar. Endnotes 1 All translated verses in this paper are from: Princeton Shahnama Project at http://etcweb.princeton.edu/shahnama/start.epl. 2 Ferdowsi, Shahnameh, Bertels (ed) Moscow edition, 1 st book, barg negar publisher, Tehran, 1378 Solar. 3 See: Savafi, Seyed Salman, Structural and Mystical Analysis of Supplication of Kumayl (Qom: 1390 Solar). 4 See: Azmayesh (1380 Solar), Chapter III: The Essence of Hakim Abolghasem Ferdowsi’s Ideas. 5 Dabir Siaghi, Shahnameh, Vol. 1, p. 92, Stanza 15. Mysticism of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh An International Epic, Mystical and Sagacious… 331 6 Ibid., Vol. II, p. 917. 7 Ibid., Vol. V, p. 2385, Verses 4 and 5. 8 Azmayesh, p. 152. 9 Gharib, Shahnameh, Vol. II, p. 1286. 10 Ibid. 11 Dabir Siaghi, Vol. I. Khaleghi-Motlagh, pg. 4 and 5. 12 Ibid., Vol. II, p. 879, Stanza 3. 13 Ibid., p. 545. 14 Ibid., pg. 629 and 642. 15 Ibid., pg. 654-655, 680 and 681. 16 In Khaleghi-Motlagh’s edition, this verse is nine couplets; in the edition published by Institute for Oriental Study, it is seventeen couplets. R.K., Vol. I, p. 9 (Tehran, 1971 Solar). 17 See: Rastegar Fasaei, Mansour, “Imam Ali and his Descendants in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and its Epic Stories,” Adabestan Magazine, No. 54. 332 Seyed G Safavi Instructions for Contributors Submissions Submitted articles should not be previously published or being considered for publications elsewhere. Authors of the accepted articles will be asked to sign a copyright form. Authors are responsible for obtaining the permission to use any material for which they do not possess the copyright. They would also be responsible for including the appropriate acknowledgements in the articles. Articles All articles should be sent to the Editor, Dr S. G. Safavi, Journal of Transcendent Philosophy, 121 Royal Langford, 2 Greville Road, London NW6 5HT, UK E-mail: philosophy@iranianstudies.org Fax: (+44) 020 7209 4727 Two copies of the typescript of the articles along with a copy on floppy disk (Microsoft Word) should be submitted. Articles (including main text, notes, tables, etc.) should not exceed 40 double-spaced A4 pages. Text must be in legible, 12-point font and clear English. The title of the article and author’s full name should be typed at the top of the first page followed by a brief abstract. The institutional affiliation, postal and e-mail addresses as well as fax and telephone numbers of the author should be submitted in an attached covering letter. Book Reviews Books for review and completed reviews should be sent to the Book Review Editor, Dr Sajjad H. Rizvi, Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4ND, ,United Kingdom, E-mail : s.h.rizvi@ex.ac.uk Two copies of the typescript of reviews along with a copy on floppy disk (Microsoft Word) should be submitted. Reviews should not exceed 6 double-spaced A4 pages. The reviewed author’s full name, book title and other specifications (place of publication, publisher, date and number of pages) as well as the reviewer’s full name and affiliation should be typed at the top of the first page. Endnotes Endnotes should be typed double-spaced at the end of the article rather than at the bottom of each page and numbered in a single sequence. Acknowledgements should be the last number in the article and placed in the endnotes accordingly. Endnotes are for the citation of the sources. د پ اد ، . Download 5.01 Kb. Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: 
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