Aspects of divinization according to Farīd-al-dīn ʿAṭṭār Nīšāpūrī (died c. 1221)

D iv i n e M e n a n d W om en in th e H is to r y a n d S o c ie ty o f L a te H e lle n is m C ra co w 2013 K r z y s z t o f K o ś c ie ln ia k J a g ie llo n i a n U n iv e r s it y A S P E C T S O F D IV IN IZ A T IO N A C C O R D IN G T O F A R ID -A L -D IN A T T A R N IS Ä P Ü R I (D IE D C . 1221) F a r i d a d ‫ ־‬d l n A tt a r ( c a 1 1 4 5 / 6 - 1 2 2 1 ) 1 is to b e a c c o un te d a m o n g s t th e g r e a t e s t S u fi p o e ts a n d p h il o s o p h e r s o f M e d ie v a l P e r s ia . U n f o r tu n a te ly h e is le s s w e ll k n o w th a n G a la l a d - d in M u h a m m a d R u m I ( 1 2 0 7 - 1 2 7 3 ) a n d M u h a m m a d H a f e z - e S lr a z I ( 1 3 1 5 - 1 3 9 0 ) . A lth o u g h A tt a r w a s o v e r s h a d o w e d b y h is g r e a t s u c c e s s o r s n o w a ­ d a y s h e is s till d i s c o v e r e d a n d r e c o g n i z e d a s o n e o f th e c a n o n i c a l m a s t e r s o f S u fi th o u g h t. A tt a r w h o le f t a n o v e r w h e lm in g in f lu e n c e o n P e r s ia n m i s t ic i s m in r e a l it y w a s c a lle d A b u H a m i d b in A b u B a k r I b r a h im b u t to d a y is b e t t e r k n o w n b y h is p e n - n a m e s F a r id a l- D I n a n d A tt a r — “ th e p h a r m a c i s t ” . a) A tta r’s life R e c o n s tr u c tio n o f A t t a r ’s lif e is v e r y d if f ic u lt b e c a u s e w e d o n o t p o s s e s s e n o u g h r e li a b le f a c ts o n h is b io g r a p h y . I n f o r m a t io n o n A t t a r ’s lif e is r a r e b y h is c o n t e m p o ­ r a r ie s . H e is m e n ti o n e d o n ly b y M o h a m m a d AwfT (d . a f te r 1 2 2 3 ) a n d K va j a N a s l r a d - d in T u s I ( 1 2 0 0 - 1 2 7 3 ) 2. I n p r in c i p le A t t a r te lls u s v e r y littl e a b o u t h im s e lf . H is w o r k s c o n ta in is o la te d a l lu s io n to c o n t e m p o r a r y p e r s o n s o r p o li ti c a l e v e n t s p r e f e r ­ r in g a tim e l e s s w o r ld o f m y s ti c is m 3. I t is u n d e r s to o d w h e n w e ta k e in to c o n s i d ­ e r a t io n th a t a ll h is w o r k s a r e a r e li g io u s n a t u r e c o n c e n tr a ti n g r e a d e r ’s a t te n ti o n o n 1 Transliteration: FarTd‫ ־‬al‫ ־‬dTn ‘Attar; Transcription: Farid ud-D In 1Attar. 2 H. Ritter, A ttä r [in:] E n cyclop aed ia o f Islam. N ew ed itio n , v o l. I, L eid en 1960, pp. 7 5 2 -7 5 5 ; B. R einert, Attär, Shaykh F a rid al-d in , in: E n cy clo p a ed ia Ira n ic a , v o l. I ll, ed. E. Yarshater, L ondon 1989, p. 20; B. R einert, Attär, F a rid al-din — P ersia n p o et, Sufi, theoretician o f m ysticism , a n d h agiograp her , [in:] E n cyclop aedia Iran ica , [o n -lin e:] h ttp ://w w w .ira n ica.com /articles/attar‫ ־‬farid‫ ־‬al-din‫ ־‬persian‫ ־‬p o et‫ ־‬and‫ ־‬su fi, [quoted 5 .0 5 .2 0 1 0 ]; F ifty P o em s o f A ttä r , transl. K. A very, A . A liza d eh , M elbourne 2 0 0 7 , Introduction , p. 3. 3 F. de B lo is, Persian Literature — A B io b ib lio g ra p h ic a l Su rv ey , v o l. V: P o etry o f the P re-m on gol P erio d , L ondon 2 0 0 4 , p. 23 3 . K r z y sz to f K ościeln ia k 92 s p ir it u a l s u b je c t s a n d h a v i n g littl e o c c a s i o n f o r b io g r a p h i c a l r e f e r e n c e s . T h e o n ly b io g r a p h i c a l d a te a p p e a r s in A t t a r ’s w r it i n g s , n a m e ly 1 1 7 7 ( 5 7 3 S .) a s th e y e a r o f h is c o m p le ti o n o f th e Manteq at-tayr (The Conference o f Birds) c a n n o t b e ta k e n a s c o n c l u s i v e e v i d e n c e b e c a u s e th e v e r s e in q u e s ti o n w a s n o t f o u n d in a ll th e m a n u ­ s c r ip ts . T h e r e is d is a g r e e m e n t o v e r th e p r e c is e d a te o f h is b ir th b u t s e v e r a l s o u r c e s c o n f ir m t h a t h e li v e d a l m o s t 1 0 0 y e a r s . T h e tr a d i ti o n a l in f o r m a ti o n th a t h e w a s b o m in 1119 a n d m u r d e r e d p r e c is e ly in 1 2 3 0 is g e n e r a lly r e j e c te d b y m o d e m h is to r ia n s 4. C u rre n tly , a c c o r d in g to th e m o s t w id e s p r e a d s c h o la r o p in io n F a r id a d ‫ ־‬d ln A tta r w a s b o m c irc a 11 4 5 in N I s a p u r 5 ( N e y s h a b u r ) lo c a te d in 115 k m s . w e s t o f M a ś h a d in p r e s e n t- d a y I r a n in th e p r o v in c e o f K h o r a s a n ( t h a t ’s th e s o u r c e o f h is n a m e , F a r id a d - d in A tta r N I s a p u r l) . I n 1 2 th a n d 1 3 th c e n t u r y N I s a p u r w a s a f lo u r is h in g a n d p r o s p e r o u s c ity f a v o u r a b l y l o c a te d o n th e g r e a t W e s t tr a d e r o u t e , m a in h ig h w a y b e t w e e n th e L e v a n t a n d C e n tr a l A s i a 6. T h e c i t y ’s p r o s p e r ity w a s r e s u lte d n o t o n ly b y m e r c h a n t a n d a r tis a n c l a s s 7, b u t a ls o b y in f l u e n ti a l s c h o la r a n d r e li g io u s g r o u p s 8. A ll s o u r c e s c o n f ir m th a t h e s p e n t m o s t o f h is lif e in N I s a p u r , b u t a c c o r d in g to A w f i, h e c o m p o s e d li te r a r y m a s t e r p ie c e s in th e S e lju k p e r io d 9. I t s e e m s th a t A tta r in h i s o w n li f e tim e w a s w e ll k n o w a s a p o e t o n ly h is h o m e to w n . A ll s ig n th a t h is g r e a t n e s s a s a m y s tic a n d a m a s t e r o f n a r r a t iv e w a s n o t d is c o v e r e d in P e r s ia u n til th e 1 5 th c e n t u r y 10. T h e s o u r c e s g iv e littl e in f o r m a ti o n o n th e f o r m a t iv e N l s a p u r l ’s life . I t s e e m s th a t N I s a p u r l r e c e iv e d a n e x c e ll e n t e d u c a ti o n in m e d i c in e , A r a b ic , a n d th e o lo g y a t M a ś h a d . H is n a m e A t t a r lite r a r y m e a n s “ a p e r f u m e r ” o r “ a p h a r m a c is t” . P r o b ­ a b l y h e i n h e r i te d th e p r o s p e r o u s p h a r m a c y f r o m h is f a th e r. A c c o r d in g to h is o w n MosTbat-Nama {Book o f Afflictions) A tta r in y o u t h w o r k e d in h is f a t h e r ’s p r o s p e r o u s p h a r m a c y p r e p a r i n g m e d ic in e s f o r a v e r y la r g e n u m b e r o f c l i e n t s 11. A f te r d e a t h h is f a th e r h e i n h e r i te d th is b u s in e s s . 4 M uslim Saints a n d M ystics. E p isod es fro m the Tadhkirat a l-A u liy a ’ (M em orial o f the Saints) by F a r id al-D in A tta r , trans. A . J. Arberry, A m e s 2 0 0 0 , Introduction , p. V II. 5 E sp e c ia lly it is resu lt o f d etailed resea rches B. Foruzanfar, Sarh-e ah w al w a n a q d o tah lil-e atar-e Sayk F arJd-al-din M o ham m ad A tta r NTsaburi, Tehran 1975 (1 3 5 3 S .), pp. 7 16. H e calcu lated that A ttar w a s b o m 5 4 0 S. that is 114 5 /1 1 4 6 . 6 R .W . B u lliet, The p a tr icia n s ofN ishapur. A Study in M edieval Islam ic S ocial H isto ry, C am bridge 19 7 2 , pp. 4 - 1 2 . 7 H. Jaou ich e, The h istories o fN ish a p u r: R eg iste r d e r Personen- und O rtsnam en (A b d -a l-G a fir a l-F arisi), W iesb ad en 1984; Ch. K. W ilk in son , N ish apur so m e ea rly Islam ic buildings a n d their d eco ­ ra tio n , N e w York 1986; J. Kroger, N ish apu r g la ss o f the ea rly Islam ic p e r io d , N e w York 1995. 8 M . M a lam uda, Sufi O rga nization s a n d Structures o f A u th ority in M edieval N ishapur , Interna­ tion al Journal o f M id d le E ast S tu d ies 2 6 (1 9 9 4 ), pp. 4 2 7 ^ 1 4 2 ; Ch. M elchert, Sufis a n d Com peting M o vem ents in N ish apu r , Iran 3 9 (2 0 0 1 ), pp. 2 3 7 -2 4 7 . 9 M oh am m ad A w fi, L ob ab a l-a lb a b , ed. S. N a fisi, Tehran 1956, pp. 4 8 0 ^ 1 8 2 . 10 B . R ein ert, Attar, F a rid al-din — P ersian p oet, S u fith e o re tic ia n o f m ysticism , a n d hagiograp h e r . . . , p. 1, [qu oted 5 .0 5 .2 0 1 0 ]. 11 B . Foruzanfar, Sarh-e a h w a l w a n a q d o tahlTl-e ata r-e Sayk FarJd-al-din M oham m ad A ttar N Tsa buri..., p. 39. A spects o f D ivin ization A cco rd in g to F arid-a l-din A tta r N isa p u n (d ie d c. 1221) 93 D a w la ts a h S a m a r q a n d l (d. a f te r 1 4 8 7 ), 15 th c e n t u r y A t t a r ’s a n d o th e r P e r s ia n p o e ts b io g r a p h e r , m a d e a n o te th a t A tt a r s p e n t m a n y y e a r s in S a d y a h , a s u b u r b o f N T sap u r, w h e r e h is p h a r m a c y w a s s itu a te d . T h e r e is a s to r y a b o u t A t t a r ’s c o n v e r s io n to th e r e l ig io u s life w h ic h r e la te d u s a b o v e m e n ti o n e d D a w la ts a h S a m a r q a n d l a n d a n o t h e r im p o r ta n t S u fi b io g r a p h e r 4A b d a l - R a h m a n G a m ! (d . 1 4 9 2 ) 12. O n e d a y , a w a n d e r in g h id e o u s d e r v is h im p e t u o u s ly c a m e to th e s h o p a s k i n g A tta r fo r p re p a re d n e s s fo r d e p a r tu r e f r o m th is w o r ld . T h e f a k ir d ie d s u d d e n ly in f r o n t o f ‘A t t a r ’s e y e s , w h ic h w o r r ie d h im s o m u c h th a t h e im m e d i a te l y a b a n d o n e d h is b u s in e s s a n d s p e n t s o m e y e a r s in th e S u fi lo d g e . I r a g B a s i n , P r o f e s s o r o f H is to r y a t th e U n i v e r s it y o f M i n ­ n e s o ta u s in g th is tr a d i ti o n f o u n d A t t a r ’s n e w lif e w a s o n e o f tr a v e l a n d e x p l o r a ti o n , f o llo w in g th e e x a m p l e o f th e f a k ir . F o r a lo n g tim e , h e m i g h t h a v e t r a v e ll e d to R a y , K u f a , M e c c a , D a m a s c u s , T u r k is t a n , a n d I n d ia , m e e ti n g w it h f a m o u s S u f i s h a y k h s Tariqah), hanegah a n d ( a r a b . s a y h ; p i. s u y u h ) 13, le a r n in g a b o u t th e m y s ti c a l p a t h ( a r a b ., p e r s . a n d e x p e r ie n c in g life in th e O r d e r ’s S u f i c e n t r e s — k h a n i q a h s ( p e r s . haneghah — lo d g e s ) . A f te r s e v e r a l y e a r s o f h is S p ir itu a l g r o w th A t t a r r e tu r n e d to N T sap u r, w h e r e s e t­ tle d a n d r e o p e n e d h is p h a r m a c y . H e a ls o b e g a n to p r o m o t e o f S u f i th o u g h t . T h e r e is o n ly little in f o r m a tio n a b o u t S u fi m a s t e r w h o m A tta r w o u ld h a v e k n o w n . A c c o r d in g to K e n n a th A v e r y A t t a r ’s w r it i n g s h o w th a t h e w a s w e ll v e r s e d in m a n y a re a s lik e lite r a tu r e , p h ilo s o p h y , a s tr o n o m y , m e d ic a l a n d p h a r m a c e u ti c a l s c ie n c e s w h ic h w a s c o n n e c te d w it h h is o c c u p a t i o n 14. I n c o n t r a s t to th is o p in i o n B e n e d i c k t R e in e r t c o n c lu d e th a t it is d if f i c u lt f in d a d e q u a te p ic tu r e f r o m A t t a r ’s w r itin g s w h ic h s h o w u s A t t a r ’s g e n e r a l e d u c a ti o n a n d c u ltu r e . b) C haracter and chronology o f A tta r ’s w orks H o w e v e r A tt a r w a s th e c r e a tiv e , s o p h is ti c a te d a n d a m b iti o u s e a r ly M u s l im m y s t i ­ c a l p o e t. H e s ta r te d w r it i n g MosTbat-Nama {Book o f Afflictions) a n d th e ElahT-Nama y e t a t w o r k in th e p h a r m a c y 15. R e g a r d i n g th e p o e t ic w o r k s , th e r e is th e q u e s ti o n w h e t h e r a ll th e te x ts th a t h a v e b e e n a s c r ib e d to h im a r e r e a l ly h is a u th o r s h ip . T h e p r o b l e m h a s n o t b e e n u n a m b ig u o u s ly s o lv e d . W e p o s s e s s c o n f li c tin g s o u r c e s b o th w ith r e s p e c t to th e n u m b e r o f b o o k s th a t h e m i g h t h a v e w r it t e n a n d th e n u m b e r o f d is tic h e s h e m ig h t h a v e c o m p o s e d . F o r e x a m p l e , R e z a G h o li h a n H e d a y a t r e p o r ts 19 0 A t t a r ’s w o r k s c o n t a in in g 1 0 0 .0 0 0 d is ti c h s ( f o r c o m p a r is o n , th e f a m o u s P e r ­ s ia n F ird a w sT ’s Sahnameh — The Great Book c o n t a in s o n ly 6 0 ,0 0 0 b a y ts ) . A n o t h e r a u th o r s p u t th e n u m b e r o f A t t a r ’s b o o k s to b e th e s a m e a s th e n u m b e r o f th e S u r a s 12345 12 D aw latsah Sam arqandl, Tadhkirat a l- s u ‘a r a , ed. M . R am dam , Tehran 1344 S ., p. 145; ‘A bd al-R ahm an b. A hm ad Garni, N afaha t al-uns min h a d a ra t a l-q u d s , ed. M . T aw hld l Pur, Teheran 1375 S., p. 599 . 131. Bashiri, F a rid a l-D in ‘A ttar, [o n -lin e:] h ttp ://w w w .a n gelfire.com /m b /b ash iri/P oets/A ttar.h tm l [quoted 6 .0 5 .2 0 1 0 ]. 14 Fifty Poem s o f A tta r , transl. K. A very, A . A liz a d e h ..., Introduction, p. 4. 15 H. Ritter, P hilologika X t F a n d a d d in A tta r I, D er Islam 25 (1 9 3 9 ), p. 148. 94 K r z y sz to f K ościeln ia k o f th e Qur'an, i.e ., 1 1 4 16. M o r e r e a l is ti c r e s e a r c h e s g iv e t h o u g h t to th e n u m b e r o f h i s b o o k s to h a v e b e e n b e t w e e n 9 to 12 v o l u m e s 17. T h e a n a l y s t s o f A t t a r ’s p o e tr y h a v e b e e n o b s e r v e d in h is b o o k s c o n s id e r a b le d if f e r e n c e s o f s ty le a m o n g th e s e S u fi w o r k s . M o r e , s o m e o f th e m in d i c a te a S u n n ite , a n d o th e r s a S h ia , in f lu e n c e o f th e a u th o r. G e r m a n s c h o la r H e ll m u t R it te r ( 1 8 9 2 - 1 9 7 1 ) a t f ir s t g a v e th e in te r p r e ta ­ tio n th a t th e p r o b l e m o f th i s d iv e r g e n c e s c o u ld b e e x p l a in e d b y a 1A t t a r ’s s p ir itu a l e v o lu tio n . H e d i s ti n g u is h e d th r e e p h a s e s F a r l d - a l - d l n ’s c r e a t i v i t y 18. F ir s tly , th e r e a r e w o r k s w h ic h c o n c e n tr a te o n m y s ti c is m m a n if e s ti n g in th e id e a o f c o m m u n io n w it h G o d , id e n ti t y w it h a n u lt im a te r e a l it y a n d d iv i n it y tr u th . I t is p r e s e n te d w a y to G o d t h r o u g h d ir e c t e x p e r i e n c e , in t u itio n , in s ti n c t o r in s ig h t. S e c o n d l y A tt a r w r o te w o r k s c o n t a in e d p a n t h e is ti c e le m e n ts . F in a lly , m a s t e r f r o m N I s a p u r in a g r e a t a g e le f t u s th e te x t s in w h i c h h e id o liz e s le a d e r s h ip p o s it i o n o f I m a m . T h is e v o l u tio n o f A t t a r ’s P o e tic c r e a ti o n c a n p r e s e n t in f o ll o w i n g s c h e m a : ► 1: m ysticism in p erfect b alance w ith a finished sto ry -teller’s art ► 2: a p an th eistic zeal gains th e upp er hand over literary interest ► 3: idoli­ zation o f Im am A ll ibn A b l T alib (there is no trace o f ord ered thoughts and d escrip tive skills) T h e d e t a il e d s tu d ie s , f ir s t b y H a f iz M a h m u d S e r a n i ( 1 8 8 8 - 1 9 4 5 ) 19, n e x t S a e e d N afisT ( 1 8 9 6 - 1 9 6 6 ) 20 a n d e s p e c i a ll y a b o v e m e n ti o n e d H e ll m u t R itte r 21 a llo w u s to Mazhar al- ‘aga ’ib (The Executor o f Wonders) Lisan al-gaib (Voice from the Outer World) w e r e f o r g e r i e s f r o m a r o u n d th e c o m e to c o n c l u s i o n th a t tw o w o r k s and m i d d le o f th e 1 5 th c e n tu r y . H e ll m u t R it te r s u p p o s e d th a t th e la s t p h a s e o f A t t a r ’s p o e t r y in th e o ld a g e , w a s c o i n c id e n t a l w it h a c o n v e r s io n to S h i ’is m . I n 1 9 4 1 , th e P e r s ia n s c h o la r S a e e d N a f ts I p r o p o s e d a th e s i s th a t th e w o r k s o f th e th i r d p h a s e in R i t t e r ’s c l a s s i f i c a t io n w e r e w r it t e n b y a n o t h e r A tt a r ( A tt a r o f T u n ) w h o liv e d a b o u t tw o h u n d r e d a n d f if ty y e a r s la te r in M a s h a d o n e o f th e h o lie s t c itie s in th e S h i a w o r ld , lo c a te d c lo s e to th e b o r d e r s o f to d a y A f g h a n is ta n a n d T u r k m e n is ta n . I t s e e m s th a t th is id e n ti f i c a ti o n c o u l d b e u n d e r d is c u s s io n . N o w a d a y s S u f is h a v e g e n e r a ll y b e e n c o n t r a s t e d w it h th e S u n n i u le m a . T h is s u g g e s ts th a t S u f is m a n d o f ­ f ic i a l I s la m ic la w w e r e in c o m p a ti b le a n d e v e n h o s ti l e to e a c h o th e r. T h e u l e m a h a v e c o n c e n tr a te d o n th e th e e la b o r a tio n a n d g u a r d ia n s h ip o f I s la m ic la w (fiqh). In th e o th e r h a n d S u fis c o n c e r n th e in n e r, e x p e r ie n tia l d im e n s io n o f I sla m . T h e r e f o r e S u f is flo u te d th e s h a r ia in t h e ir q u e s t f o r k n o w le d g e o f G o d . S o m e t im e s r e c o n c il i a t io n b e tw e e n 16 C f. I. B ash iri, F a r id al-D in ‘A tta r , [o n -lin e:] http://w w w .a n gelfire.com /m b /b ash iri/P oets/A ttar. htm l [qu oted 6 .0 5 .2 0 1 0 ]. 17 In the in troductions o f M okhtar-N am a and K h osro w -N am a, A ttar lists the titles o f further h is w orks: D iv a n , A sra r-N a m a , M a qam at-e Toyur (= M anteq a t-T a yr ), M osibat-N am a, Elahi-N am a, J aw ah er-N am a, Sarh a l-Q alb. 18 C f. H. Ritter, P h ilo lo g ik a X , F aridad din A tta r / . . . , p. 1 3 4 -1 7 3 , e sp e c ia lly pp. 1 4 3 -1 4 4 . 19 C f. H .M . Serani, ‘Tasnifat i saih F aridu l-din A tta r , U rdu 7 (1 9 2 7 ) pp. 1 -9 7 . 20 C f. S. NafisT, Just-u-ju d a r a h w a l w a a ta r i F aridu l-din A tta r i N isa p u ri , Teheran 1942. 21 C f. H. Ritter, P h ilologika X, F aridaddin A tta r I..., pp. 1 3 4 -1 7 3 ; P h ilo lo g ik a XIV, F aridaddin ‘A tta r II, O riens 11 (1 9 5 8 ), pp. 1 -7 6 ; Philologika XV, F aridaddin A tta r III, O riens 12 (1 9 5 9 ), pp. 1 -8 8 ; P h ilolog ika XVI, F a ridadd in A tta r IV, O riens 1 3 -1 4 (1 9 6 1 ), pp. 1 9 4 -2 3 9 . A sp ects o f D ivinization A ccord in g to F arld-al-din A tta r N isa pu ri (d ie d c. 1221) 95 la w a n d S u f is m b e c a m e n e c e s s a r y lik e f o r e x a m p le b y a l - G a z a ll ( 1 0 5 8 - 1 111). T h is r e c o n c ili a tio n a llo w e d to th e s p r e a d a n d d e v e l o p o f S u f i in s ti tu ti o n s ( S u f i b r o t h e r ­ hoods — ariqas) in th e la te 12th a n d 1 3 th c e n tu r ie s . B e f o r e 1 2 th c e n t u r y S u f is h a d f o r m e d lo o s e c i r c l e s o r g r o u p s th a t h a d h a d n o in s ti tu ti o n a l s tr u c t u r e o r a f f il ia t io n 22. D u r in g A t t a r ’s life , th e s e g r o u p s c r y s ta l li z e d a n d a u t o n o m o u s S u f i in s ti tu ti o n s a n d p r a c tic e s e m e r g e d . P r o b a b ly th i s c o n t e x t a l s o c o u l d b e u s e f u l f o r e x p l a n a ti o n o f th e th ir d p h a s e o f A t t a r ’s p o e tr y . I n th e 1 3 th c e n t u r y S u f is b e c a m e p a r t o f M u s l im s o c ia l a n d d e v o t io n a l lif e u n it in g in t h e i r p h i l o s o p h y a n d t h e o lo g y v a r io u s I s la m ic d o c tr in a l e le m e n ts . It is d o u b tf u l w h e th e r S a e e d N afisT w a s r ig h t in a ttr ib u tin g th e p o e t r y o f th e s e c o n d g r o u p to a n o th e r A tt a r ( A tt a r o f T u n ) b e c a u s e th e p r in c i p a l f ig u r e in th e s e c o n d g r o u p is n o t ‘A ll ib n A b l T a lib (d . 6 6 1 ) , a s in th e th i r d g r o u p , b u t M a n s u r - e H a ll a g ( 8 5 8 - 9 2 2 ) . C e r ta in ly th e s ty le th e A t t a r ’s w o r k s in th e f ir s t g r o u p a n d th o s e in th e s e c o n d g r o u p is d e e p ly d if f e r e n t s o it is im p o s s ib l e to e x p l a in th is p h e n o m e n o n b y a s p ir itu a l e v o lu tio n o f th e p h il o s o p h e r f r o m N Is a p u r. I t r e m a in s a n u n s o lv e d p r o b le m w h e th e r w o r k s o f th e s e c o n d g r o u p a r e o r n o t A t t a r ’s a u t h o r s h ip . c) The C on feren ce o f B irds A tta r N is a p u r i w a s in s p i r e d b y a f r e s h a n d e n l a r g e d s p ir it u a l v is io n w h ic h s t i m u ­ la te d P e r s ia n S u fi tr a d itio n o f th e n e x t g e n e r a ti o n s to n e w s p ir itu a l g r o w th . H is th o u g h t a b o u t r e lig io u s a n d s p ir itu a l a t tit u d e s d r a m a ti z e th e d e e p e s t a s p e c ts o f th e h u m a n c o n d itio n . O n e o f A t t a r ’s m a jo r p o e t ic b o o k s is c a l le d Asrar-Nama {Book o f Secrets) about S u fi id e a s. A c c o r d in g to tr a d itio n a g e d A tt a r g a v e th is w o r k G a la l a d - D I n M u h a m m a d R u m l ( 1 2 0 7 - 1 2 7 3 ) w h e n R u m l ’s f a m ily s ta y e d o v e r a t N I s a p u r o n its w a y to K o n y a . A n o th e r g r e a t c o n t r i b u ti o n o f A t t a r is ElahT-Nama {Divine Book ) 2324, a b o u t zuhd Maqdmcit-e Toyiir o r Mantiq at- ( a s c e tic is m ) . W ith o u t d o u b t a m o n g A t t a r ’s b o o k s -Tayr — The Conference o f the Birds24 is m a s t e r p ie c e in w h ic h h e m a k e s e x t e n s i v e u s e o f A l- G a z a l l ’s tr e a tis e o n B ir d s a n d a s w e ll a w o r k o n th e s a m e to p ic c o m p o s e d b y th e I h w a n a s - S a ia 25, th e B r o th e r s o f S e r e n it y o r th e B r e t h r e n o f P u r it y ) a s e c r e t s o c ie ty o f M u s lim p h ilo s o p h e r s in B a s r a ( I r a q ) in th e 10th c e n tu ry . Mantiq at-Tayr The Conference o f Birds, b u t th is title The Logic o f birds, b e c a u s e m e a n in g o f th e w o r d mantiq w ith te r m “ s p e a k in g ” , b u t a ls o “ lo g i c ” . Mantiq at-Tayr is is u s u a ll y t r a n s l a te d a s c a n a lso b e u n d e r s to o d a s is c o n n e c te d n o t o n ly 22 M . M alam uda, Sufi O rganizations a n d Structures o f A u th ority in M ed ie va l N ish ap ur, Interna­ tional Journal o f M id dle East S tu d ies 2 6 (1 9 9 4 ), pp. 427-^142. 23 The Ilahi-Nam a (or B ook o f G od) o f F a rid al-D in A tta r, M an ch ester 1976 . 24 This m asterpiece has m an y edition: F arid-u d‫ ־‬din Attar, C onference o f the birds : a se ek e r ,s jo u rn e y to G o d , ed. R. P. M asani, York B ea ch 2 0 0 1 ; The con ference o f the b ird s , ed s. A . D arbandi, D . D a v is, H arm ondsw orth 1986; The conference o f the birds: M antiq ut-tair; a p h ilo so p h ica l religiou s p o em in p ro se , ed. C. S. N ott, L on don 1974; The con ference o f the birds. A Sufy A llegory, being an a b rid g e d Version o f F arid-ud-D in A tta r ’s M an tiq-ut-Tayr , L on d on 1961. 251. Bashiri, F a rid a l-D in ‘A ttar, [on -lin e:] h ttp ://w w w .a n gelfire.com /m b /b ash iri/P oets/A ttar.h tm l [quoted 6 .0 5 .2 0 1 0 ]. K r z y sz to f K ościeln iak 96 c o m p o s e d a s g r e a t p h i l o s o p h i c r e li g io u s p o e m w it h m a n y little s p ir itu a l s to r ie s , c o n c e a li n g th e b ig s p ir it u a l c o n te x t. T h e r e is o b s e r v e d in Simorgh and si morgh. Mantiq at-Tayr a c l e v e r p la y Simorgh m e a n s T h e f ir s t w o r d o f w o r d s b e t w e e n th e te r m s a m y s te r io u s b ir d in P e r s ia n m y t h o lo g y o f te n b e i n g a s y m b o l in s u f i li te r a tu r e s im i la r to th e p h o e n ix b ird . T h e e x p r e s s io n at-Tayr si morgh h a v e m e a n in g “ th i r ty b i r d s ” in P e r s ia n . T h e s to r ie s Mantiq r e c o u n t s th e o v e r w h e lm in g d e s ir e o f a g r o u p o f b ir d s w h o c r a v e to k n o w th e g r e a t S im o r g h , a n d w h o u n d e r th e g u id a n c e o f a le a d e r b ir d H o o p o e s ta r t th e ir j o u r n e y to w a r d th e k i n g d o m o f S im o r g h . O n e b y o n e , th e y d r o p o u t o f th e jo u r n e y , e a c h o f f e r in g a n e x c u s e a n d u n a b l e to e n d u r e th e jo u r n e y . In th e la rg e c o n t e x t o f th e s to r y o f th e j o u r n e y o f th e b ir d s , A t t a r m a s t e r f u ll y te lls th e r e a d e r m a n y d id a c tic s h o r t, s to r ie s a n d d e e p s e n te n c e in c a p t iv a t in g p o e t ic s ty le . W h e n th e b ir d s o f th e w o r ld a s s e m b le , th e y w o n d e r w h y th e y h a v e n o k in g . T h e H o o p o e 26 s h o w s h e r s e l f a t o n e ’s b e s t a s a m e s s e n g e r f r o m th e s p ir itu a l w o r ld w ith k n o w le d g e o f G o d a n d th e s e c r e t s o f c r e a tio n . I t is w o r th to s tr e s s th a t th e H o o p o e is m e n ti o n e d o n c e in th e Q u r a n , in S u r a 2 7 , 2 0 - 2 9 27 b u t h a s im p o r ta n t p la c e in th e M u s l im f o lk l o r e a n d t r a d i ti o n 28. A c c o r d in g to th e Q u r a n th e H o o p o e is in te llig e n t, s m a r t, k n o w s a n d w o r s h i p s h is C r e a to r , a n d c o m m u n ic a te d w ith K in g S o lo m o n 29. T h e b ir d s g u id e d b y h o o p o e s p a r e d n o e f f o r ts in s e a r c h o f S im u r g h . T h e y m u s t c r o s s s e v e n v a l le y s in o r d e r to f in d t h e i r k in g . I n th e f ir s t v a lle y Talab ( v a ll e y o f th e q u e s t) o n e u n d e r g o e s a h u n d r e d d if f ic u l tie s a n d tr ia ls . A f te r o n e h a s b e e n te s te d a n d b e c o m e f r e e , o n e le a r n s in th e s e c o n d v a l le y ‘Isq ( M o d e m P e r s ia n eshgh, v a l le y of lo v e ) . T h e b ir d s u n d e r s t o o d th a t lo v e h a s n o th i n g to d o w it h r e a s o n . T h is m y s tic d o c t r i n e r e f e r s to “ d iv in e lo v e ” o r “ a c r e a t u r e ’s lo v e f o r its c r e a to r ” ; i.e . m a n ’s lo v e f o r G o d . S te p p in g in to th e n e x t, th ir d v a lle y Al-M ‘arifa ( th e v a lle y o f u n d e r s te n d in g ) , th e b ir d s f o u n d in th e p la c e o f u n d e r s ta n d i n g w h e r e u n d e r s to o d th a t k n o w le d g e is te m p o r a r y , b u t u n d e r s ta n d i n g w ith s ta n d s . O v e r c o m in g f a u lts a n d w e a k n e s s e s m o v e s t h e s e e k e r c l o s e r to th e a im . Al-M ‘arifa w h ic h li te r a l ly m e a n s “ k n o w le d g e ” , is th e te r m u s e d b y S u f i to d e s c r ib e m y s ti c a l in tu iti v e k n o w le d g e o f s p ir itu a l tr u th r e a c h e d th r o u g h e c s t a ti c e x p e r i e n c e s . I t is e q u i v a le n t o f n e o p l a to n ic “ G n o s i s ” . I n th e v a lle y o f u n it y th e H o o p o e a n n o u n c e s th a t a l th o u g h y o u m a y s e e m a n y b e in g s , in r e a lity th e r e is o n ly o n e , w h ic h is c o m p le te in its u n ity . T h e f o u r th v a l le y Istighnah is p r e s e n te d a s th e v a l le y o f in d e p e n d e n c e o r d e t a c h ­ m e n t, i.e ., s e p a r a t io n f r o m w is h to p o s s e s s a n d th e d e s ir e to d isc o v e r . T h e b ir d s b e g in to f e e l th a t t h e y h a v e b e c o m e p a r t o f a u n iv e r s e th a t th e y a r e s e p a r a t e d f r o m th e ir 26 It is about the bird U pupa epops. 27 K. K o ścieln ia k , Tem atyczna konkordancja do K oran u , K raków 2 0 0 6 , p. 95. 28 N . H. D u p ree, An In terpretation o f the R ole o f the H o o p o e in Afghan F olklore an d M agic , F olk lore 85 (1 9 7 4 ), pp. 1 7 3 -1 9 3 ; J. L assner, Islam izing o f S tory o f the H oopoe [in:] D em onizing the Queen o f Sheba: bo u nd aries o f g e n d e r a n d culture in P o stb ib lic a l Judaism a n d M edieval Islam , C h ic a g o 19 93, pp. 9 7 -1 0 1 . 29 O n the contrary in the B ib le the H o o p o e is d etesta b le, u n clea n and forbidden for eating (L ev 11, 1 3 -1 9 ; D eu t 14, 18). A spects o f D ivinization A cco rd in g to F arid-al-dln A tta r N isapu ri (d ie d c. 1221) 97 p h y s ic a l r e c o g n iz a b le r e a lity . I n t h e i r n e w m y s ti c a l w o r ld , th e p la n e ts a r e a s m i n u te a s s p a r k s o f d u s t a n d e l e p h a n ts a r e n o t d is ti n g u is h a b le f r o m a n ts . E n te r in g to th e f if th v a lle y Tawhid ( v a ll e y o f th e “ U n i t y o f G o d ” ) th e b ir d s r e a l ­ iz e th a t u n ity a n d m u l ti p l ic i ty c o n s ti tu te th e o n e r e a lity . T h e H o o p o e a n n o u n c e s th a t a l th o u g h th e r e a r e s e e n m a n y b e i n g s , in r e a l it y th e r e is o n ly o n e , w h i c h is c o m p le te in its u n ity . T h e b i r d s h a v e tr a n s f o r m e d in e n t it i e s in a v a c u u m — w i t h o u t s e n s e o f e te r n ity . T h e b i r d s r e a liz e f u n d a m e n ta l tr u th , t h a t G o d is b e y o n d u n ity , m u l tip lic i ty , a n d e te r n ity . W h e n u n it y is a c h ie v e d , o n e f o r g e ts a ll a n d f o r g e ts o n e s e lf , th e b ir d s s te p p i n g in to th e s ix th v a l le y Hay rat ( th e v a l le y o f a s to n i s h m e n t a n d b e w il d e r m e n t ) . T h e r e th e y b e c a m e s u r p r is e d a t th e d a z z li n g b e a u t y o f th e B e lo v e d . T h a t w a s th e h i g h e s t a m a z e m e n t. E x p e r ie n c i n g e x tr e m e s a d n e s s a n d d e s p o n d e n c y , th e y f e e l th a t th e y k n o w a n d u n d e r s ta n d n o th in g . T h e y a r e n o t e v e n c o n s c io u s o f th e m s e lv e s . F in a lly , o n l y th ir ty b i r d s r e a c h th e h o m e la n d o f th e S im u r g h , th e s e v e n th v a l le y Fuqur a n d Fana ' ( th e v a l le y o f S e lf le s s n e s s a n d O b li v i o n in G o d ) . T h e r e is im p o s ­ s ib le to s e e k in g a n y w h e r e . S im u r g h ’s h ig h r a n k in g o f f ic ia l k e e p s th e m w a i t i n g f o r S im u r g h lo n g e n o u g h f o r th e b ir d s to f ig u r e o u t th a t th e y th e m s e lv e s a r e th e murgh si ( th ir ty ) ( b ir d ) . T h e la s t v a l le y is th e p la c e o f d e p r iv a ti o n a n d d e a t h w h i c h — a n d a c c o r d i n g to th e H o o p o e — is a l m o s t im p o s s ib l e to d e s c r ib e it. I n th e i m m e n s it y o f th e d iv in e o c e a n th e s itu a tio n a n d o r d e r o f th e p r e s e n t w o r ld a n d th e f u tu r e w o r ld d is a p p e a r s . A s a r e s u lt, th e s e v e n th v a l le y r e p r e s e n t d e p r a v a ti o n , f o r g e tf u l n e s s , d u m b n e s s , d e a f n e s s , a n d d e a th . T h e s e r e p r e s e n t th e s ta tio n s th a t a S u f i o r a n y in d i v id u a l m u s t p a s s th r o u g h to r e a liz e th e tr u e n a t u r e o f G o d . F ly in g th r o u g h s e v e n v a l le y s th e b ir d s c a m e u n d e r a t ta c k f r o m m a n y d if f ic u lti e s . T h e y u n d e r g o m a n y te s t s a s th e y t r y to f r e e th e m s e lv e s o f w h a t is p r e c i o u s to th e m a n d c h a n g e t h e i r s ta te . T h e la s t s ta tio n — v a lle y o f S e lf l e s s n e s s a n d O b li v i o n in G o d s h o w th e S u f i p u p il s th a t th e p r e s e n t a n d f u tu r e liv e s o f th e t h i r ty s u c c e s s f u l b ir d s b e c o m e s h a d o w s c h a s e d b y th e c e le s tia l S u n . A n d th e m s e lv e s , lo s t in th e S e a o f H is e x i s t e n c e , a r e th e S im u r g h . The Conference o f the Birds (Mantiq at-Tayr) s tr e s s , th a t a s lo n g a s w e a r e s e p a r a t e , g o o d a n d e v il w ill a ris e ; b u t w h e n w e lo s e o u r s e l f in th e d iv in e e s s e n c e , t h e y w ill b e tr a n s c e n d e d b y lo v e 30. kkk D u r in g th e j o u r n e y 2 2 b ir d s a s k th e H o o p o e a b o u t th e a s p e c ts o f lif e . H o o p o e ’s p o in ts is illu s tr a t e d b y s h o r t a n e c d o t e s . F o r e x a m p le th e n ig h t in g a l e a n n o u n c e s th a t th e lo v e o f th e R o s e f u lly s a tis f ie s h im , b u t th e H o o p o e w a r n s a g a i n s t b e i n g a s la v e o f s e lf - p e r f e c tio n . T h e P a r r o t m is s e s f o r im m o r ta lit y , a n d th e H o o p o e e n c o u r a g e s th e P e a c o c k to c h o o s e th e to ta l u n it. T h e H o o p o e w a r n s th e P a r tr i d g e th a t g e m s a r e n o t m o r e a s c o l o r e d s to n e s a n d th a t lo v e o f th e m h a r d e n s th e h e a r t. I t is m u c h b e t t e r 30 I. Bashiri, F a rid al-D in [quoted 6 .0 5 .2 0 1 0 ]. ‘A tta r , [in:] h ttp ://w w w .an gelfire.com /m b /b ash iri/P oets/A ttar.h tm l K r z y sz to f K ościeln ia k 98 s e e k th e r e a l j e w e l o f s o u n d q u a lity . T h e H o o p o e g iv e s a p ie c e o f a d v ic e th e H u m a y w h ic h is d is tr a c te d b y a m b iti o n , a n d th e O w l lo v i n g o n ly th e tr e a s u r e h e h a s f o u n d . A s h a r p r e p r im a n d is g i v e n th e S p a r r o w f o r ta k in g p r id e in h u m ility . T h e H o o p o e r e c o m m e n d s th e b ir d s s t r u g g li n g b r a v e l y w it h o n e s e lf . A c c o r d in g to th e H o o p o e ’s o p in i o n th e d i f f e r e n t b ir d s a r e j u s t s h a d o w s o f th e S im u r g h . I f th e y a c h ie v e a im , th e y w il l n o t b e G o d ; b u t t h e y w ill b e im m e r s e d in G o d . I f th e th i r ty b ir d s lo o k in t h e i r h e a r t s , th e y w ill s e e th e d iv in e im a g e . T h e i r a p p e a r a n c e s a r e j u s t th e s h a d o w o f th e S im u r g h . T h e tr u e lo v e o f G o d is r e a l iz e d i f th e y d o n o t th i n k a b o u t th e ir o w n liv e s b u t s a c r if ic e t h e i r d e s ir e s . D il e m m a s o f th e th i r ty b ir d s , th e ir d o u b ts a n d f e a r s, th e c o u n s e ls o f t h e i r l e a d e r H o o p o e , a n d f ir s t a t a ll th e ir c h o ic e o f th e S im u r g h a s a k i n g , is in r e a l it y a n a l le g o r y o f th e s p ir itu a l w a y o f S u fis m w ith its d e m a n d s , its d a n g e r s a n d its in f in ite r e w a r d s 31. W o r k in g in th e f i e l d o f A t t a r ’s t h o u g h t it is n e c e s s a r y to f o c u s o n e ’s a tte n tio n o n th e r o le N e o p la t o n is m . A n e x a m in a t io n o f b o th A t t a r ’s w o r k s a n d N e o p la to n is m r e v e a ls c lo s e s im i la r i ti e s w it h r e g a r d to th e n a t u r e o f G o d , th e s o u l, th e b o d y , c o n ­ c e p ts s u c h a s g o o d n e s s , e v il a n d b e a u ty , d e a th a n d lif e , a n d c r e a tio n . P r o b a b ly A tta r e n j o y s a m o r e li b e r a l a p p r o a c h w it h h is c o n c e p tio n o f m y s ti c u n io n c o n n e c te d a lso w it h a d e g r e e o f B u d d h i s m ’s in f lu e n c e . A c c o r d in g to n e o p la to n is m , G o d is th e s o u r c e a n d a i m o f e v e r y th in g ; f r o m h im e v e r y t h in g c o m e s , to h im a ll th in g s r e tu r n ; h e is th e b e g in n in g , m i d d le a n d e n d , th e a l p h a a n d o m e g a . C o m m u n io n w ith G o d o r a b s o r p tio n in G o d , t h e r e f o r e , is th e r e a l g o a l o f a ll h u m a n a c tio n s . G o d is a s u p r e m e p o w e r , th e f i n a l c a u s e , th e c o s m ic f o r c e , th e h ig h e s t s p ir i tu a l, a n d c r e a tiv e B e in g . T h e r e is n o a s p e c t o f A t t a r ’s p h il o s o p h y th a t is n o t in f l u e n c e d b y n e o p la to n i s m . U s i n g th e im a g e o f j o u r n e y o f th e b ir d s , A tt a r m a s t e r f u ll y g iv e s th e r e a d e r e x ­ c e l le n t r e f l e c t i o n a b o u t th e b ir d s a r r iv in g in th e la n d o f S im o r g h . O n ly th e th ir ty b ir d s r e a c h e d th e a i m a n d c o n s e q u e n t ly th e y s e e o n ly th e r e e a c h o th e r. I n th e la s t f r a g m e n ts The Conference o f the Birds (Mantiq at-Tayr) p r e s e n ts r e f le c tio n o f th e th i r ty b ir d s in a la k e — n o t th o u g h t o f th e m y t h ic a l S im o r g h . A c c o r d in g to A tta r G o d is n o t e x t e r n a l o r s e p a r a t e f r o m th e u n iv e r s e , r a th e r is th e to ta lity o f e x is te n c e . T h e t h i r ty b ir d s lo o k i n g f o r th e S im o r g h r e a l is e th a t S im o r g h is n o th in g m o r e th a n th e ir tr a n s c e n d e n t to ta lity . T h is c o n c e p t s e e m s to b e s im ila r to e l e m e n ts o f N e o p la to n ic P a n t h e i s m 32. T h e deep est m essag e o f The Conference o f the Birds is c o m p le te ly d o m in a te d b y th e p h il o s o p h i c a l t h o u g h t th a t th e in d i v id u a l s e l f d o e s n o t r e a l ly e x ist, th e d r o p b e c o m e s p a r t o f th e g r e a t o c e a n f o r e v e r in p e a c e . I t is u s e d th e a n a l o g y o f m o th s s e e k in g th e f la m e . O u t o f t h o u s a n d s o f b ir d s o n ly th ir ty o f th e m b e c o m e a w a r e th a t th e S im u r g h is th e m . W h e n th e li g h t o f lig h ts is m a n if e s te d th e y a r e in p e a c e b e g i n ­ n in g a n e w lif e in th e S im u r g h a n d c o n t e m p la te th e in n e r w o r ld . I t w a s m e n tio n e d 31 The A lleg o rica l ,Conference o f the birds ,is A tta rs m o st fa m o u s work. tr. Garcin de Tassy and C. S. N o tt [o n -lin e:] h ttp ://o ld p o etry .co m /o p o em /2 4 9 2 9 ‫ ־‬F arid-al-D in -A ttar‫ ־‬C on feren ce‫ ־‬O f‫ ־‬The-Bird s [q uoted 2 8 .0 5 .2 0 1 0 ]. The S oul-B ird S ym bol In Sufi L iteratu re , [on -lin e:] http ://in dianm u slim s.in /the-so u l-b ird -sy m b o l-in -su fi-litera tu re/ [q uoted 6 .0 5 .2 0 1 0 ]. 32 The Conference o f the B irds , N ation M aster E n cyclo p aed ia, [o n -lin e:] w w w .statem aster.com / e n c y c lo p e d ia /T h e -C o n fe r e n c e -o f-th e -B ir d s [quoted 2 0 .0 5 .2 0 1 0 ]. A spects o f D ivinization A cco rd in g to F arid-al-din A tta r N isa p u n (d ie d c. 1221) th a t n a m e Simurgh in p la y th e P e r s ia n w o r d c o u l d b e c h a n g e in to 99 Si murgh w it h m e a n in g “ th ir ty b ir d s ” . H o w e v e r i f f o r ty o r f if ty b ir d s h a d a r r iv e d to S i m u r g h ’s h o m e la n d , it w o u ld b e th e s a m e . N e o p la t o n is m is th e c l o s e s t d o c t r i n e o f A t t a r ’s p h i l o s o p h y in s y s t e m o f h is b e ­ lie f. T h e u n iv e r s e is j u s t a n a p p e a r a n c e o f G o d , a n d d o e s n o t h a v e a n i n d e p e n d e n t e x is te n c e . B y a n n i h il a t in g th e m s e lv e s in th e S im u r g h th e b ir d s r e c e iv e i m m o r ta li t y f in d in g th e m s e lv e s in j o y a n d le a r n in g th e s e c r e ts . I n p r in c i p le it is a i n s tr u c ti o n f o r S u f i. S o lo n g a s h e d o e s n o t r e a l iz e h is n o th i n g n e s s a n d d o e s n o t r e n o u n c e h is s e lf - p r id e , v a n ity , a n d s e lf - lo v e , h e w il l n o t r e a c h th e h e i g h ts o f im m o r ta lity . A s a m a t ­ te r o f f a c t A tt a r N l s a p u r i c o n c l u d e d th e e p ilo g o f The Conference o f Birds w i t h th e w a r n i n g th a t i f s o m e o n e w is h to f in d th e o c e a n o f h is s o u l, t h e n d ie to a ll h is o ld lif e a n d th e n k e e p s ile n t. A tt a r d e e p l y b e l i e v e d th a t G o d is b e y o n d a ll h u m a n k n o w le d g e a n d e x p e r ie n c e . T h e s o u l w il l s h o w i t s e l f w h e n c o r p o r e a l it y is t o t a ll y la id a s id e . S u f i c a n n o t g a in s p ir itu a l k n o w le d g e w i th o u t d y in g to a ll th in g s . T h e H o o p o e c o n f ir m s th i s id e a s a y in g : So long as we do not die to ourselves, and so long as we identify with someone or something, we shall never hefree. The spiritual way is not for those wrapped up in exterior life. 5 T h e r e a r e n o t a “ d u a l it y ” a n d s e p a r a t io n b e t w e e n G o d a n d th e u n iv e r s e . I n r e a lity , th e G o d a n d th e u n iv e r s e a r e th e “ O n e ” . It is n o t p o s s i b le to th i n k o f G o d a n d th e u n i v e r s e a s s e p a r a te e n titie s b e c a u s e G o d is n o t s o m e t h in g o u ts id e th e u n iv e r s e , b u t r a th e r s o m e th in g w it h i n th e u n iv e r s e . T h is A t t a r ’s b e l i e f w a s in i ti a ll y s u g g e s te d b y n e o p la to n is m . T h e y b o th r e c o g n i z e th e e x is t e n c e o f th e u n iv e r s e a s a n e m a n a ti o n fro m G o d . T h e A t t a r ’s id e a o f th e o n e n e s s o f G o d - u n iv e r s e - h u m a n b e i n g s s h a r e n e o p l a to n ic s a m e b e lie f s a b o u t th e s o u l. A c c o r d in g to n e o p l a to n is m , th e s o u l is a d iv i n e e s s e n c e a n d th e s o u r c e o f a ll e x is t e n c e . T h e b o d y is a c a g e w h e r e th e s o u l is tr a p p e d , a n d it c a n b e f r e e d w h e n th e b o d y d ie s . T h e s o u l a l w a y s in c lin e s t o w a r d p e r f e c t i o n a n d e x a lta tio n . A c c o r d in g to A tt a r th e s o u l is t r e a te d s im ila r ly , a n d e x p r e s s e d a s a d i v in e e s s e n c e in h u m a n s . I n th e o n e o f th e e x p r e s s io n th e H o o p o e a d m o n is h e s th e s ix th b i r d a g a i n s t th e d o g o f d e s ir e th a t r u n s a h e a d . E a c h c o n c e it e d d e s ir e b e c o m e s a d e m o n a n d t h e r e f o r e th e w o r ld is a p r is o n u n d e r th e d e v il. T h e H o o p o e a ls o e x p la in s th a t i f s o m e o n e le t n o o n e b e n e f i t f r o m h is g o l d , h e w il l n o t p r o f it e ith e r ; b u t b y th e s m a l le s t g if t to th e p o o r th e y b o th b e n e f it. Goodfortune will come to you only as you give. If you cannot renounce life completely, you can at leastfree yourself from the love of riches and honors. 6 A S u fi s tu d e n t b e c o m e s a f r a i d in f a c in g a c h o i c e b e t w e e n tw o p a t h s , b u t a s p i r it u a l m a s t e r a d v is e s g e t tin g r id o f f e a r s o th a t e i th e r p a t h w ill b e g o o d . 100 K r z y sz to f K ościeln ia k T h e b o d y , lik e s o u l, is a ls o tr e a te d s im i la r l y in A t t a r ’s p h il o s o p h y a n d n e o p l a t o n ­ is m . A c c o r d in g to n e o p l a to n is m , th e b o d y is n o t d iv in e , m o r t a l a n d te m p o r a r y . T h e b o d y te n d s n o t to w a r d s b e a u t y a n d g o o d n e s s , b u t to w a r d s u g lin e s s a n d e v il. W h a t is b e a u t if u l, v a l u a b le a n d d iv in e is th e s o u l, b u t n o t b o d y . T h e b o d y in c lin e s to w a r d s te m p o r a r y d e s ir e s a n d w is h e s . I t is a c a g e f o r th e s o u l. A tt a r s h a r e s th e s a m e b e lie f. T h e H o o p o e r e m a r k s th a t s e n s u a l lo v e is a g a m e in s p ir e d b y p a s s in g b e a u ty th a t is f l e e ti n g a n d s h e a s k s w h a t is u g l i e r th a n a b o d y m a d e o f f le s h a n d b o n e s . A c c o r d in g to th is lo g ic is b e t t e r to s e e k th e h id d e n b e a u t y o f th e in v is i b l e w o r ld : S tr iv e to d is c o v e r th e m y s te r y b e fo r e life is ta k e n f r o m y o u . I f w h ile liv in g y o u f a i l to f i n d y o u r s e l f to k n o w y o u r s e l f h o w w i ll y o u b e a b le to u n d e r s ta n d th e s e c r e t o f y o u r e x is te n c e w h e n y o u d ie ? T h e f if te e n th b i r d e x p l a in s th a t j u s t i c e is s a lv a tio n , w h ic h s a v e s f r o m e r ro r s . B e in g j u s t is b e t t e r t h a n a life o f r e li g io u s w o r s h ip . J u s t ic e e x e r c is e d in s e c r e t is e v e n b e t­ te r t h a n lib e r a lity ; b u t j u s t i c e p r a c t ic e d o p e n ly m a y le a d to h y p o c r is y . O n e A t t a r ’s a n e c d o te a b o u t tw o d r u n k s te a c h e s th a t w e s e e f a u lts b e c a u s e w e d o n o t lo v e . W h e n w e s e e th e u g li n e s s o f o u r o w n f a u lts , w e w ill n o t b o th e r s o m u c h w ith th e f a u lts o f o th e r s . F o r n e o p l a to n is m b e a u t y m e a n s m u c h m o r e th a n m e r e s y m m e try . I t in ­ v o lv e s a c l o s e r e la ti o n s h ip to th e id e a l r e a lity ; it is a n a p p e a r a n c e o f G o d o v e r th e o b je c ts o f th e u n iv e r s e . A t t a r th in k s e x a c tl y th e s a m e a b o u t b e a u ty . F o r h im it is th e a p p e a r a n c e o f d i v i n e lig h t in th e f a c e o f a h u m a n . N e o p la t o n is m id e n tif ie d b e a u t y w i t h d i v i n e e s s e n c e , a n d A t t a r a d o p t e d th e s i m i la r id e a . ’k 'k 'k A t t a r N I s a p u r l p r e s e n ts G o d , q u ite d if f e r e n t f r o m O r th o d o x I s la m ic b e lie f . I t is r e ­ a l ly a q u e s ti o n o f th e s o c ia l a n d c u ltu r a l e n v i r o n m e n t in w h ic h s u f is m f lo u r is h e d h o w h a p p e n e d th e in t e r a c t io n b e t w e e n is l a m a n d n e o p la to n is m . I n p r in c i p le I s la m ic p h il o s o p h y h a s its r o o ts m o s tl y in th e w o r k s o f A r is to tle w h ic h w e r e a ll tr a n s la te d in to A r a b i c . T h e m o s t C la s s ic a l I s la m ic p h il o s o p h e r s e s ta b l is h e d th e ir th e o r ie s o n th e b a s is o f A r i s t o t l e ’s p h ilo s o p h y . T h r o u g h th e tr a n s l a ti o n s o f th e w r itin g s o f P la to a n d P lo ti n u s , th e y a ls o w e r e in t r o d u c e d in to th e M u s l im c u ltu r e f irs t in A n a to lia a n d th e n in P e r s ia . T h e N e o p la t o n ic m y s tic e le m e n ts w e r e in c o r p o r a te d w ith a n c ie n t A n a to l ia n b e lie f s . T h e b e s t e x a m p le is th e s a c r e d n e s s o f n a tu r a l e v e n ts s u c h a s th e s u n 33. I t w a s u s e d a ls o in The Conference o f the Birds in th e b e l i e f o f G o d ’s r e s e m ­ b la n c e to th e s u n . I n th i s w a y N e o p la t o n is m p r e p a r e d th e w a y f o r lib e r a l in te r p r e ta ­ ti o n s o f I s la m ic p r in c i p le s in S u fi p h ilo s o p h y . C o m e y o u lo s t A to m s to y o u r C e n tr e d r a w ; A n d b e th e E te r n a l M ir r o r th a t y o u s a w : R a y s th a t h a v e w a n d e r ,d in to D a r k n e s s w id e R e tu r n a n d b a c k in to y o u r S u n s u b s id e 33 K. M o d ele k , The n eo platon ic R oots o f Sufi P h ilo so p h y , [o n -lin e:] h t t p ://w w w .m u s lim p h ilo s o p h y .c o m /i p /C o m p G o d e .h t m [qu oted 2 .0 6 .2 0 1 0 ].