An assembly of birds: The crow deciding whether the owl should lead the assembly of birds. Miniature painting from a 17th c. manuscript of Anvar-i Suhayli. Originally published/produced in India, 1610-1611.
With this bright new year of 2020, I’m sharing a few literary/artistic picks (two books and one music album) that were recently inspired by Conference of the Birds (منطق الطير), the allegorical poem by Farid al-Din Attar (lived in Nishapur c.
I’d like to provide here several draft syllabi for those of you interested in teaching and research of the following topics. I support an open-source approach to knowledge, and am happy to follow up on these resources in conversation if you have any comments or questions.
Time Periods & Parameters of Arabic Literature In the field of Arabic literature, courses are usually designed as either “Modern” or “Classical.” The former refers to roughly the 19th century and later, with works considered “early modern” until around the time of the Second World War.
I’ve been pondering what my “10 for Libraries” list would look like ever since M. Lynx Qualey and Ursula discussed “Where to Start” (reading Arabic literature) on the Bulaq podcast, and as I’ve been seeing the various “10 for Libraries” lists posted on Arablit.org (first in the series here).
Novel: The Open Door by Latifa Zayaat – The classic feminist novel in Arabic. Set in 1940s-50s Egypt during anti-colonial struggles. A highly developed main character, showing her shifting relationships to family members, romantic partners, and her nation.
Here’s my new edition and translation of part of the medieval Arabic Sirat al-Amira Dhat al-Himma ‘Epic of the Commander Dhat al-Himma’ https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2151&context=mff
Available online and open-access at the above link! Check it out if you’re interested in medieval epics, classical Arabic literature, popular culture, or warrior women. This publication includes the Arabic excerpt, my English translation, and a scholarly introduction. For more background, see my previous posts on Arabic epics and on the NEA Grant that helped fund this work.
Al-Buraq (ِِالبراق) is a supernatural creature in Islamic tradition that travels extremely rapidly. It appears in the context of the Prophet Muhammad’s miraculous night journey (Arabic Isra’ إسراء) from Mecca to Jerusalem, followed by the ascension (Ar. Mi‘raj معراج). This journey occurred on the 27th of Rajab in the Islamic calendar, and is remembered among Muslims every year. The journey is mentioned in the Quran only briefly (Quran 17:1). Al-Buraq and other details regarding the journey are given in Hadith (Traditions).
As a fairly recent new mother (since Aug. 2016), I am still navigating the exhilarating ups and downs of life with a young child. So when the opening of this poem appeared in a recent translation project, I snatched it to share here:
Life is fleeting, so use it to honor your parents First and foremost, your mother ## The pressures of pregnancy and breastfeeding Sustain the welfare of all human beings ## Even kings must respect and heed them: Earthly kings are merely sparkling rain – The first three lines of a six-line poem by Abu ‘Ala’ al-Ma‘arri, 973-1057,
Ready for some adventure tales? Join us in reading “101 Nights” (Miit layla wa-layla). Like its most famous cousin, “1001 Nights” (also called Arabian Nights), this medieval story collection also includes the frame tale of Shahrazad saving her life with her storytelling. However, our text is shorter, older, and likely has North African or Andalusian origins. It’s much more unified, and the translation looks excellent. I for one am looking forward to adding some fun to my reading this month!
This article translated from Moroccan press by Melanie Magidow
(Hespress April 28, 2018, Wail Bourchachene)
Abdelfattah Kilito, Moroccan writer and literary critic, deplored that his Masters students in the last several years before his retirement “really read nothing.” In an interactive lecture at Ibn Tufail University in Kénitra, he stressed that the students were not familiar with important literary references and prominent writers.
Regarding the titles of his books, Kilito said they were not determined by commercial motives.
Here’s to travel, expanding one’s horizons, and taking on new challenges!
My friend Barbara Romaine recently published a series of poems here, including the following celebration of roaming (Arabic here). [one_half]
Wanderlust by al-Imam al-Shafiʿi (d. 820), translated by Barbara Romaine To a mind wise and cultured, what ease in a place? Pull up stakes, leave your country, and roam! Those you meet on your travels will make up the loss Of those left behind you at home.
Here is a tiny teaser excerpt from my Work in Progress translation of the epic Sirat al-Amira Dhat al-Himma/سيرة الأميرة ذات الهمة from Arabic to English. (This translation project is funded by a grant from the NEA.) Note: I’m playing with the name of the main character. She was born Fatima, but is known as Dhat al-Himma in Arabic. It’s a mouthful in English, so I’m calling her Valor for now.
