Social Affairs (Apr 2016)
BEAUTY AND THE BELOVED: SARAPA IN 16TH CENTURY HINDAVI SUFI ROMANCE MRIGAVATION
Abstract
Islam is generally understood to be opposed to figural depictions of sacred objects. Yet in medieval literature and paintings, we find examples where God’s beauty is artfully depicted. This article firstly traces the rich debates within Islamic theology and underscores why anthropomorphism is juxtaposed with the principle of monotheism or Tauhid. The article then highlights how Sufi hermeneutics, and specifically Ibn al Arabi, brings forth an interpretation that allowed Sufi writers such as Qutbanuharvardy to write in nuanced ways about the beauty of God. Interestingly, these were deeply embedded in Quran and Ahadith, unlike what many Oriental scholars who view Sufism as a derivative of other religions, would anticipate. Then, it dwells upon the compelling ways in which Persian literature, Indian aesthetics, miniature painting, and Sufism interacted to bring forth the 16th century masterpiece known as Mrigavati.
