The Mystical Element in Mikhall lKu6aymah's Litesary Works and Its Affinity to Islamic Mysticism BY Yeni Ratna Yuuingsib, A thesis submitted to the Facul* of Graduate Studies and Research in partial ialflllment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Institute of Islamic Studies MCGLU University Montreal June 1999 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1*1 ofCanada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Strmt 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfom, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts from it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation, ABSTRACT Author : Yeni Ratna Yuningsih Title : The Mystical Element in MikhaU Nucaymah's Literary Works and Its AfEmity to Islamic Mysticism Department : Institute of Islamic Studies Degree : Master of Arts This thesis investigates the mystical elements in MikhS'ïl Nu'ayrnah's literary works and their affiity to Islamic mysticisrn, elaborating in particular on the notions of oneness of being and the transmigration of soul. These two themes are the more prevalent ones in Nucapah's mystical thought when compared to such other themes as love and asceticism, which can also be found in his works. However, the notion of oneness of being seems to be the basis of his mystical concepts as well as the goal to which other themes are directed. The notion of the transmigration of soul is therefore developed by Nucayrnah in the context of the idea of oneness of being. The mystical thoughts of Mla'ii Nucaymah conceming the two notions above, are to be found in a number of his works, such as &-d al-MaCa-d,al-Marai& The Book of Mirdaid, Liqa', his autobiography Sab'ïiin and his collections of poems Hams alJufun. Auteur :Yeni Ratna Yuningsih. Titre :L'élément mystique dans I'oeuvre littéraire de Mïkh3.1 Nuca~ahet ses affinités avec le mysticisme islamique. Département :Institut d' Études Islamiques, Université McGill. Diplôme : Maitrise es Arts. Ce mémoire explore les éléments mystiques de l'oeuvre littéraire de MikhSlil Nu'aymah ainsi que son avec le mysticisme islamique, en élaborant particulièrement les notions de l'unicité de l'être et de la transmigration de L'âme. Ces deux thèmes semblent plus prévaloir dans la pensée mystique de Nu'aymah que d'autres thèmes tels que l'amour et l'ascétisme et que l'on retrouve aussi dans ses oeuvres. Toutefois, la notion d'unicité de l'être semble être le fondement des concepts mystiques de l'auteur, de même que l'objectif visé par les autres thèmes. Le concept de la transmigration de l'âme est donc développée par Nu'aymah dans un contexte d'unicité de l'être. La pensée mystique de MikhSQ NuCamahportant sur les deux notions ci-haut mentionnées, se retrouvent dans plusieures de ses oeuvres telles que le Zad al-Ma'ad, &-Marail, Le livre de Mirdiid, son autobiographie Sabtïn et son recueil de poèmes Hams al-Jufün. ..- Ill Transliteration The Arabic transliteration in this thesis follows the system used by the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University. The table of transliteration is as foliows: b=+ dh= i =L 1 =J Short : a= ; ; i= Y ; U=L - - Long : a=[. ; 'r= u=~ '2 -' Diphthongs : ay= $1 ;aw=,I Ta marbütah wili be transliterated as "h" for example, Nu'aymah = ;i; and as "t" when in a construct phrase. such as mdatal-wujud = +?JJ 1 gJ-3 Acknowledgments There are a number of individuals and institutions deselving of my deepest appreciation and sincerest gratitude for their support and help during my studies and in research for this thesis. First, special thanks go to my academic and thesis supervisor, Prof. Hermann Landolt, who not only provided expert supernision and criticism of my thesis but also gave me a deeper understanding of Islamic mysticism. I am also grateful to Prof. Issa J. Bouflata who guided me through my frst year of study and introduced me to the richness of mahjar literature, especiaiiy the works of MiikhS'il Nu'aymah. 1 have been fortunate to benefit from the kindness and expertise of two such respected scholars. 1 would like also to extend my appreciation to Wendy Allen, the present Director of the McGiii-Indonesia IAIN Development Project, as well as to all the oficials of this project both in Jakarta and Montreal for their assistance during my course of study, especiaily Joanna Gacek, Lori Novak, Susy Ricciardelii, Phi1 Williams and Anni Yoesoef. Special thanks are also due to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for providing me with a fellowship, without which my intention to study at McGill might not have been realized. My deep gratitude is also due to Prof. A. Üner Turgay, the Director of the Institute of Islamic Studies and al1 the staff for their concem and support throughout my courw of study. 1 also would like to thank Prof. Dr. H. Quraisy Shihab and Dr. Azyumardi Azra, the former and present rectors, respectively, of the State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) Syanf Hidayatullah, Jakarta, for granting me permission to leave my duties as junior lecturer during a the two years that it took me to complete my degree. My special thanks are also due to the staff of the Islamic Studies Library especially Salwa Ferahian, Wayne St. Thomas, and Steve Millier who not only assisted me in obtaining sources but also extended to me a very warm friendship during my time at the Institute. 1 dso owe a considerable debt to Steve Millier for patiently editing my thesis and casting it in more fluent English. My special gratitude also goes to Pak Thalib (Abdul Muthalib), for his help in translating some references of my thesis. Last but not least, 1 wish to express my deepest thanks and love for my beloved husband, Mizan Sya'roni, who gave unstintingly of his patience, tendemess, and understanding at aii times but especially during the writing of this thesis. My deepest gratitude and love go also to my parents, K.H Dadun Sanusi and H. Euis Nurlaela, my brothers and sisters and my whole farnily for their inspiration, affection and support. This thesis is dedicated to those people who have given me their enduring love and support, including my beloved grandmother, Atikah (may Allah forgive her) who passed away while 1 was enrolled in the Pre- Departure Program in Jakarta, and my late uncle, Drs. Kingkin Berlian Bachtiar, S.H (mayAllah forgive him) who was very supportive and asked me to share one day my cultural and academic experiences in McGili with him. 1 wish I could have fulfiiled his request. Table of Contents .. Abstract .......................................................................................... .LI ... Résumé........................................................................................... .LU Transliteration.................................................................................. iv Acknowledgment................................................................................ v .. Table of Contents ............................................................................. .vu Introduction...................................................................................... 1 Chopter One: Mikha'il Nii6aymah: An Exceptional Lue................... -10 1. Early Life in Biskinta .......................................................... 10 2 . An Initial Passageway to the East ........................................ -15 3. In the Path of Christ ............................................................ 18 4 . Poltava, the Gate to the New World ....................................... 20 5 . The Dream is Reaked .........................................................26 6 . Back to the Cradle of Biskinta .............................................37 Chaptet 'ho: A General View of Sirfkm.......................................... 40 1 . Mysticism and Sufism ..........................................................40 2 . Some of the Main *fiThemes ............................................ -49 2.1. WaMat al-Wu@ (Oneness of Being)............................... 50 2.2 . TaBasukh (The Transmigration of Soul) ...................... 70 Chapter Three: An halysQ of the Mysticai Elament in MIkha'il Ndaymah's Literary Works............................................ -80 1 . Oneness of Being .................................................................82 2 . The Transmigration of Sou1................................................... 96 Conclusion..................................................................................... 106 Bibliography.................................................................................. 112 vii Introduction The significance of MikhaQ Nu'aymah (1889-1988) to the development of modem Arabic literature lies in his contribution to mahjarl Literature, the emergence of which can be traced back to the tum of the nineteenth century,