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A Study of Abū ™Ālib Al-Makkī

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A Study of Abū ™Ālib Al-Makkī A STUDY OF AB ™™™LIB AL-MAKK Saeko Yazaki Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Edinburgh 2010 ii VOLUME I Aims of the Thesis Part 1 Part 2 iii DECLARATION I hereby declare that I, Saeko Yazaki, have written this thesis and that the research upon which it is based is my own work. The thesis has been submitted to the University of Edinburgh for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and it has not been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification. Saeko Yazaki January, 2010 iv The purification of Mu 999ammad’s heart by three Divine messengers The Freer Gallery, 57.16, fol. 138a v ABSTRACT The aims of this thesis are to evaluate the present status of scholarship on Ab ™lib al-Makk (d. 386/996) and to expand the basis of further research on him by analysing him in a multi-dimensional way. This study challenges the conventional view that al-Makk ’s Qt al-qul b (‘The Nourishment of Hearts’) is a Sufi work. Part 1 introduces modern scholarship on al-Makk . It also demonstrates several issues which are tackled in this thesis. The present study focuses on a metaphorical image of the heart, which is also shared in various cultures. By looking at this common idea, Part 2 first attempts to explore the nature of the Qt within the context of Sufism and religion in general. This part provides a summarised translation of part of the Qt, where the author elucidates his view of the heart. The intention of this annotated translation is to provide easy access to the key thought of al-Makk in the Qt, for the first time in English, on the basis of a critical edition of this book. Lastly Part 2 discusses the authenticity of al-Makk ’s alleged work, !Ilm al-qul b (‘The Knowledge of Hearts’). Part 3 analyses the influence of al-Makk within and beyond Islam. Considering the limited area of the study of al-Makk , this part first examines numerous works in various fields from his time until the twelfth/eighteenth century. This is to evaluate how he was perceived in Muslim scholarship and to explore areas which have not been discussed thoroughly before. Finally this thesis looks at the Andalusian Jewish scholar, Ibn B qd (d. some time after 472/1080) and his book al-Hid ya il far vi+ al-qul b (‘The Right Guidance to the Religious Duties of Hearts’). A possible link between the two authors has been sometimes pointed out; however, it has not been studied exhaustively. Through exploring various aspects of al-Makk and his writing, the present thesis attempts to open up the study of the Qt beyond Sufism and to offer an opportunity to give further thought on the essential features of the mystical dimensions of Islam. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My doctoral studies in Edinburgh have been supported by various people, who have made my Ph.D. life unforgettably enjoyable. First of all, I would like to thank my colleagues and the staff in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies not only for their academic and administrative support, but also for giving me a sense of belonging to the department. Heartfelt thanks also go to the administrators of the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures. My research was in part supported by the School; I am grateful to its generous financial support for the tuition fees and research trips. My thanks also go to the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies for providing me with a grant for my final research trip to London. I would like to show my sincere appreciation to Ustadh Irfan al-Misri of L’Institut français du Proche-Orient at Damascus, who has greatly expanded my knowledge of Arabic, and to Mr Fadi al-Fatayri, who willingly helped me whenever I encountered practical difficulties when I was in Syria and afterwards. I am also grateful to Ms Golnaz Nanbakhsh, who took trouble to arrange the translation of an article in Persian. My special thanks go to Professor Robert Hillenbrand, who summoned up an image of the heart of the Prophet Mu9ammad (the cover of this thesis), using his encyclopaedic visual memory. Professor Hillenbrand kindly let me be involved in the Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World, which was then newly established. It has been delightful to be acquainted with its members of the staff since then, especially Mr Jonathan Featherstone. I have received support and inspiration from far too many people to be able to enumerate them all here. Amongst those who have provided me with helpful comments on my work and English, I am particularly indebted to Dr Stephen Burge. It was such an exciting experience to discuss our research and to struggle together to organise a course on Islam at the Office of Lifelong Learning. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Dr Ben Young. He read through my thesis under severe time constraints and gave me practical advice which enormously helped the thesis. I am also grateful to Mr Paul Anderson for clarifying certain English and Arabic terms, and to Ms Margaret Graves. There is a sense of comradeship with both of them in addition to friendship, which I enjoy and appreciate. Among the people at 19 George Square, I would like to thank Dr Tony Gorman for his help on many levels. My heartfelt thanks go to Dr Ben White too for his care and consideration. Both of them have given me reliable support without exception, as well as a good reason to take a break. I am also grateful to Dr Andrew Marsham, who has been a joy to know and work with. Outside this university, it is impossible for me not to thank Professor Yasir Suleiman and Mr Peter Evans. It has been heartening to feel that both of them seem to see something in me, which I do not really see by myself. Including the Master’s degree, my time in Edinburgh turned out to be such a wonderful one. My study itself, however, has been interrupted many times. Although things change, I have never forgotten those who provided me with abundant support vii and encouragement when I was facing difficulties. My heartfelt thanks go to especially Ms Rhona Cullen, Mr Geoff Hajcman, Ms Katy Kalemkerian, Ms Emi Sakamoto, Ms Clarissa Sweet and Ms Iola Wilson. Together with them, my friends from all over the world, including Canada, China, France, the States, Ukraine and here in Edinburgh, have been and will be always in a special place in my heart. Grateful thanks are due to Mr Takaya Inouchi for his encouragement and financial support, and to his parents for their understanding. I have always appreciated their goodwill, even during the difficult times. And my family, relatives and friends in Japan – I appreciate that they let me do what I am doing now, which I could not even dream about when I was in Tokyo. Having been caught up in the hectic day-to-day pace of life, I left many things unsaid and undone. This is therefore my very belated thanks for all that they have unstintingly given me. It might be a convention to thank an academic supervisor earlier in the acknowledgements. I decided, however, to express a great debt of gratitude which I owe to Professor Carole Hillenbrand here. This is to show clearly that her unfailing support has been not only within academia. I can find no words which adequately articulate how deeply I appreciate her constant encouragement. It has been a source of strength to be able to feel that she is not only always willing to give me a hand, but also on my side whenever it is needed. Rather than listing fancy expressions to convey what words cannot tell, I would simply like to thank her – for being in my life. It has been my humble wish to be a student whom she can be proud of later on. Starting with this thesis, I hope I will be able to make opportunities to give her back what I have received. *** All the people mentioned here have helped me produce this thesis one way or another. Needless to say, all the deficiencies and flaws that remain come from me, probably from my stubbornness in not being able to take advice all the time. viii NOTES ON TRANSLITERATION SYSTEM The transliteration for Arabic used in this thesis follows the International Journal of Middle East Studies : Consonants: v, b, t, th, j, 9, kh, d, dh, r, z, s, sh, N, +, U, b, !, gh, f, q, k, l, m, n, h, w, y Tv marb Ua: -a (-at in construct state) Long and short vowels: , a, , i, , u Diphthongs: ay, aw Doubled vowels: iyy (final form ), uww (final form ) Definite article: al- and ’l- Case endings are only marked when necessary. Common English names (such as Sufism, Mecca, Jesus) are not transliterated. ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Amin Amin, ‘An Evaluation of the Qt al-qul b of al-Makk with an annotated Translation of his Kit b al-tawba ’. !Aw rif al-Suhraward , !Aw rif al-ma !rif . Concepts Izutsu, Ethico-Religious Concepts in the Qur vn. De Slane Ibn Khallik n, Ibn Khallikan’s Biographical Dictionary , trans. de Slane. Dialogue Lobel, A Sufi-Jewish Dialogue . Dimensions Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam . Direction Ibn B qd, The Book of Direction to the Duties of the Heart , trans. Mansoor. Doctrine al-Kal bdh , The Doctrine of the £fs, trans. Arberry. Early Mystic Smith, An Early Mystic of Baghdad .
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