Literary Arts (Aug 2017)
The study of allusion and adapted Qur'anic and Hadith themes in Amir Khosrow Dehlawi’s "Noh Sepehr Mathnavi (Mathnavi of the Nine Skies)"
Abstract
The Qur'an has always been the fountain of inspiration for Muslims and the greatest school of education for the believers and truth-seekers. Qur'an is outwardly and inwardly full of beauties and mysteries which manifest themselves according to the disposition and understanding of those who appeal to it. To express their understanding, mystics and poets have often cited Qur'an and it is mirrored in their words impressively as it is. One such poet is Amir Khusro Dehlawi, the Indian-born Persian mystic-poet, whose poetry is valued as inspired by the Qur'an. The evaluation of the Qur'anic light and allusions in his "Noh Sepehr Mathnavi” helps better understand the formation of Qur'anic allusions in the Persian literature. 1-Introduction Ab'ul Hasan Yamin ud-Din Khusrow, the most well-known Persian poet of the Indian subcontinent, was among those who were affiliated with Chashtieh sect. "In his youth, he served Nizamuddin Auliya who was of the celebrated religious elders of dehli at that time (Zarrinkub, 2010). He has left many Persian poetry and prose works in India, in which he has addressed Qur'anic verses and prophetic Hadith along with his display of beauties of Persian literature. 2-Discussion Regarding the spread of Sufism and the principles of Islamic Sufism among the Muslims of India, the writers and poets employed Qur'anic concepts in the form of "allusion, adaptation, translation, adaptive versification, etc." to articulate their Sufi thoughts. In this respect, Amir Khusro Dehlawi, who is both a great and celebrated mystic and poet, has best employed two literary figures of allusion and adaption in his Noh Sepehr Mathnavi. It is necessary to evaluate these two rhetorical figures in Noh Sepehr Mathnavi to realize the formation of Qur'anic allusions in Persian literature and to make use of the valuable literary-mystical heritage of great Persian poets. 3-Introduction of the Noh Sepehr Mathnavi Amir Khusro Dehlawi wrote Noh Sepehr Mathnavi in 718 (of the lunar calendar) in nine Sepehr (skies), each of which was different in meter from other skies, in the name of Qutubuddin Mubarak ibn Alla od-Din Khilji known as Qutb od-Din Mubarak Shah – the last of the Khilji dynasty. While writing delicate lines, he has praised the Lord and eulogized the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and, at the same time, he has reported certain historical occurrences and battles in the work. 4-The ways Noh Sepehr Mathnavi is influenced by Qur'anic allusions and Hadith Nabawi 4-1. Direct influence: in the sense that the poet has cited all or part of a verse in his poem in the form of a line or couplet with an alteration, for example: His flag is soaring over the cloud * In the help of God for victory he’s clad (Noh Sepehr) “When comes the help of God, and victory” (An-Nasr, 1) He who names himself a shepherd * He ought to keep an eye on the sheep The prophet’s Hadith: “All of you are play the role of a shepherd to each other and are responsible. You will be questioned about this. A sovereign plays the same role toward his subjects and is responsible to them” (Foruzanfar, 2006). 4-2. Indirect influence: every now and then, the poet has used the gist of a verse in his poem. The cumbered accounts best suits thrones * Reckoned as clean is the book of the good (ibid) “But as for him who is given his book in his left hand, he shall say, 'Would that I had not been given my book * and not known my reckoning!” (Al-Haqqa, 25-26) 4-3. Association of meanings: Sometimes, the poet expresses his words in a way that the diction associates with Qur'anic allusions and Hadith Nabawi though he does not intend any allusion or adaptation. The fire struck from the rocks thereupon * Created stars as if from the new moon (ibid) By the snorting chargers, * by the strikers of fire (Al-'adiat, 1-2) 5- Conclusion On reading Noh Sepehr Mathnavi, one might consider Amir Khusro Dehlawi a poet interested in Qur'anic themes and Hadith Nabawi. In the light of his attachment to and knowledge of Qur'anic mysteries, has proven to be a remarkable representative of Persia literature in India. The evaluation of allusion and adaptation in his work helps better understand the same reflection of Qur'anic mysteries and prophet’s Hadith in Persian literature and fathom out the influence of words of mystic in formation of literary traditions of Persian language.
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