Literary Arts (Sep 2022)
A Study of Stylistics of the Manuscript of Diwan-e Shur-e Eshgh (Complete Poetical Work of ‘Passion of Love’) Written by Sa’d al-Din Ahmad Ansāri
Abstract
The unique manuscript of ‘Shur-e Eshgh’ (Passion of Love) in the forms of Mathnavi (poetry consisting of distiches rhyming between themselves) and Bahr-e Motaghāreb was composed by Ahmad Ansari nicknamed Hāji Sāheb in 10000 lines and written in Naskh calligraphy in 1225 A.H. The mentioned poetry is of a religious-epic type that relates the stories of the creation of mankind, as well as prophets and infallible Imams (AS). This article tried to introduce this manuscript. This research was based on a descriptive-analytical method and a document classification technique in a library setting for collecting information. IntroductionThe predecessors’ works in the form of Naskh manuscripts have been remembered for centuries and it is our responsibility to preserve and correct them while staying faithful to the original texts. The manuscripts left by the writers and poets of the past centuries are, in fact, the precious written scientific heritage of any nations, each of which has its own characteristics, conditions, value, and credibility (Doostani Ali Abad et al., 103: 2022). There is a sea of rich Islamic and Iranian culture in written versions. These volumes are the achievements of great scientists and geniuses representing Iranians’ identity. It is the duty of any generations to protect this precious heritage and make efforts to revive it by knowing its history, culture, and literature (Jahanbakhsh, 7: 2000) Materials and MethodsThis research was based on an analytical-descriptive method. Also, a document (library) approach was taken to gather the data. DiscussionThe book entitled "Shur-e Eshgh" (Passion of Love) written by "Ahmad Kāboli Ansāri" is one of the elegant, technical, and somewhat complicated texts of Persian language. Like many of its contemporary versions, this work needs to be introduced. It is difficult to understand its text without scientific examination and presentation of its linguistic and literary features in addition to knowing its date of writing. Knowledge of such texts can be useful for researchers in the fields of literature, history, sociology, anthropology, etc. They can help them to accurately understand the contents of other works.Mowlānā Sheikh Sa’d al-Din is originally named Ahmad bin Mowlana Abdul Ghaffar bin Mowlana Abdul Aziz bin Mowlānā Abdul Karim Barki Ansari. In the book of "Nash’at al-Qods", it is stated that Mowlānā Abdul Karim's mother has been Seyyedeh (related to Shiite Imams’ descendants) from the lineage of Imam Zain al-Ābidin and thus, he had a lineage of Siyādāt and at the same time Ansar (Ansari, 42: 1950)Like the mystics of the past, he had a path of Maqām (all is He) or monotheism. Therefore, most of his sonnets were based on this paradigm. Accordingly, he has a complete sonnet with the following related rhyme:Whatever comes out all with my fiery breath is He;Never see my companion’s anybody, but He (Ansāri, 1995: D6/140)According to the little evidence available in the text, it is more likely that the author has been from Sunni sect because he has given the title of "Amir al-Mu'minin" to the righteous caliphs and added the prayer phrase of "May God be pleased with him" after the name of each one, while writing the prayer phrase of "May God make his face noble" only after the name of "Amir al-Mu'minin Ali Ibn Abi Talib" (Peace Be Upon Him) as Sunnis do. Findings:The book of ‘Shur-e Eshgh’ is a book of more than 10000 verses. The writer (Mir Akbar) has introduced Sheikh Sa’d al-Din in an eloquent prose in its introduction. Both versions of this work have begun with this verse:First, in His name! He gave any particle a name with sense;Everyone, special, general, He endowed existence(Ansari: 33: 1950)The version found in the Library and Documents Center of the Islamic Council, No. 9556, contained 401 pages with the dimensions of 14.5×1 cm. Each page had 13 lines written in Nastaliq script. This book did not have a section of ‘Secret Letter’ at the end.The version found in Ganj Bakhsh Library of Pakistan, No. 15311, had 538 pages with the dimensions of 13×26.5 cm. Each page contained 20 lines, which were also written in Nastaliq script. This research was based on a copy of this work that was available in the library of Ganj Bakhsh, Pakistan. ConclusionTechnical prose became common in Persian prose from the middle of the 6th century of Hijri. Like poetry, this type of prose resorted to the use of literary terms, formal literary compositions, repeated rhyming prose, and synonymous sentences with different words. To express grace, innumerable Arabic words with much poetic evidence were applied. A lot of hints and arguments from the Holy Quran appeared in all the works of this century (Bahar, 14: 2012).The prose of this work could be placed in the class of rhymed prose to a large extent. Therefore, it had the characteristics of melodious and technical prose and verses.In terms of intellectual dimensions, this work was based on an extroverted text. In its "first Maghsad (destination)", including parting, nearness to grave, congratulation, condolence, mourning, etc., it entered into emotional issues according to the context, but it did not enter the inner world, thus expressing external and objective aspects.The manuscript of ‘Shur-e Eshgh’ (Ansari's Mathnavi) dated 1225 A.H. was a type of poetry different from today's poetic currents and had a classical view towards sonnets. One of the interesting points of his poems was their variety of topics and scopes. Romantic, mystic, social, political, and religious poems, etc. were all gathered together so that it could be accepted by all tastes.
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