Page 18 - Pakistan Link - October 20, 2023

P18 - PAKISTAN LINK - OCTOBER 20, 2023 COMMENTARY
n By Dr Ahmed S. Khan Book & Author Part from part cannot be separated.
Chicago, IL From Prophethood we all have the
same melody,
Professor Dr Annemarie Schimmel: The same breath, the same aim.
r Annemarie Schimmel Expounding on the main theme
(April 7,1922 - January 26, of Iqbal’s poetic love for the prophet
D2003) was one of the most (pbuh), Dr Schimmel notes: “When
acclaimed scholars of the 20th cen- And Muhammad Is His Messenger — The one recognizes the central position
tury — who dedicated more than fifty that the Prophet [pbuh] occupies in
years of her life— to explain Islam Veneration of the Prophet in Islamic Piety Iqbal’s thought and poetry, many of
to the West and in the process shat- his metaphors, images, and symbols
tered various myths and stereotypes appear in a new light. Thus, the word
that were promoted by the colonial ‘love’ in his verse often denotes love
era orientalists. She began teaching then led me to realize how much love of the Prophet [pbuh] or love inspired
Persian and Arabic poetry at the Uni- of the Prophet [pbuh] had colored the by him because he is the true embodi-
versity of Marburg in Germany. Later work of Muhammad Iqbal, the poet- ment of Divine Love, as Iqbal sings
she served as the professor of religious philosopher of this century. The study in the succession of Rumi and other
studies at University of Ankara, Tur- of Sindhi folk literature added new fac- mystics: the great ode ‘The Mosque of
key (1954-59). During her stay in Tur- ets to the picture. My fascination with Cordoba,’ like numerous other verses
key her translation of Rumi’s poetry the development of the veneration of in the collection of his most mature
furthered her interest in Iqbal. On the the Prophet [pbuh] and its reflection Urdu poems, Bal-i-Jibril, repeatedly
insistence of her Turkish friends, she in literature, especially poetry, resulted equates ‘Love’ with ‘Mustafa.’ Like-
translated ‘Jawednama’ into Turkish. in a number of articles pertaining to wise, Iqbal’s constant allusions to
This led to her first visit to Pakistan prophetology as perceived by Iqbal, re- Arabia, to the Najd and Hijaz, gain
in 1958, which opened a new door flected in Sindhi poetry, and theoreti- their real value in the light of his deep
in her scholarship and inquiry that cized by a reformist Muslim mystic like veneration of the ‘Arabian friend,’ as
ultimately took her to Harvard Uni- Mir Dard in eighteenth-century Delhi, he loved to call the Prophet [pbuh],
versity. During her tenure at Harvard and other topics.” following the example of many Indian
University (1967-1992) as professor Dr Schimmel, acknowledging many poets before him. A key to Iqbal’s way
emerita of Indo-Muslim culture in people who contributed indirectly to- of thinking in this context is the final
Near Eastern Languages and Civiliza- wards the evolution of the book, states: verse of his Tarana-i-Milli, the ‘Na-
tions Department, she authored vol- “Many people have had their share in tional Song,’ composed in the early
umes of articles and dozens of books Historically, Western scholars have Biographical and Biographical Notes, the growth of this book: qawwals in In- years of this century: The caravan
covering a wide spectrum of topics overlooked the importance and signifi- 2. Muhammad the Beautiful Model, dia and Pakistan who sang the praise leader for us is the prince of Hijaz,
and issues related to Islamic studies, cance of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) 3. Muhammad’s Unique Position, 4. of the Prophet [pbuh] in unforgettable By his name our soul acquires peace!
Sufism, Iqbal, and Rumi. in the lives of Muslims. Dr Schim- Legends and Miracles, 5. Muhammad tunes; theologians who sometimes ob- This line is followed by the revealing
Professor Schimmel’s scholarship mel notes that historically, Christians the Intercessor, and the Blessings upon jected to the ‘mystical’ interpretation words: Iqbal’s song is as it were the
served as a bridge between the East and feared Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Him, 6. The Names of the Prophet, 7. of the person of the Messenger [pbuh] sound of the caravan bell!”
West, cultures and religions. She was however, that they began taking a more The Light of Muhammad and the Mys- of God; old women in the villages of Dr Schimmel summarizes Iqbal’s
a multilingual scholar who educated sober approach to the Prophet’s (pbuh) tical Radiation, 8. The Celebration of Turkey and Pakistan, whose whole life work on the Prophet (pbuh) by observ-
Germans, Europeans, and the world at personality in the eighteenth century, the Prophet’s Birthday, 9. The Prophet’s was permeated by a deep, trusting love ing: “Iqbal’s work comprises theologi-
large, through her writing and lectures and Western attitudes toward Muham- Night Journey and Ascension, 10. Po- of the Beloved of God; and students cal and political, mystical and socio-
in English, German, French, Latin, mad (pbuh) changed considerably as etry in Honor of the Prophet, 11. The both in the Islamic countries and in logical interpretations of the Prophet
Arabic, Persian, Danish, Norwegian, his role as a leader and model for social ‘Muhammadan Path’ and the New In- the United States, who asked ques- [pbuh]. But toward the end of his life,
Italian, Czech, Turkish, Urdu, Pashtu, and political conduct became apparent terpretation of the Prophet’s Life, and tions and tried to learn more about a he turned once more to the Prophet
Sindhi, and Punjabi. in the last century. 12. The Prophet Muhammad in Mu- phenomenon that is so little known in [pbuh] as the faithful, loving, and con-
She authored more than eighty Dr Schimmel explains that in order hammad lqbal’s Work. the West…Cambridge, Massachusetts soling friend and sang in simple words,
books, on a wide array of topics, which to understand Muslim piety, it is neces- Commenting on the evolution Spring 1984.” almost like one of the folk poets of his
include, Gabriel’s Wing: A Study Into sary to consider the long history of the of the book and her interest about One of the special features of the native Punjab, of his longing for the last
the Religious Ideas of Sir Muham- veneration of Muhammad (PBUH), Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), in the book is the inclusion of Allama Dr resting place of the Prophet [pbuh]:
mad Iqbal (1963), Islamic Calligraphy who saw himself as ‘a servant to whom preface, Dr Schimmel observes: “This Muhammad Iqbal’s work on Prophet Just like a bird who, in the desert night,
(1970), Mystical Dimensions of Islam inspiration was granted’— but who book is the fruit of an interest in the Muhammad (pbuh). Discussing vari- spreads out his wings when thinking of
(1975), The Triumphal Sun: A Study of soon was seen, as stated in the Qur’an, figure of the Prophet [pbuh] of Islam ous aspects of the veneration of the his nest. And in an unforgettable image
the Works of Jalaluddin Rumi (1978), as the Usiva hasana, the ‘beautiful that has developed over more than Prophet [pbuh] in Iqbal’s work, the au- lqbal sums up what millions and mil-
A Dance of Sparks: Imagery of Fire in model’ — for all believers. four decades. I was first introduced thor notes: “Iqbal’s work is a fascinating lions of pious Muslims have felt over
Ghalib’s Poetry (1979), Islam in the In- Dr Schimmel discusses various as- to and deeply moved by the concept web of diverse strands that range from the centuries and still feel about the
dian Subcontinent (1980), As Through pects of Prophet Muhmmad’s (pbuh) of the ‘mystical Muhammad’ [pbuh] Islamic fundamentalism to the most Prophet [pbuh]:
a Veil: Mystical Poetry in Islam (1982), life, birth, marriage, miracles, and when I was a teenager, busying my- recent scientific theories of the West, Love of the Prophet [pbuh] runs
And Muhammad Is His Messenger: heavenly journey — all of which be- self with the study of Arabic under the from mystical flights into the Divine like blood in the veins of his commu-
The Veneration of the Prophet in Is- came themes of religious devotions. guidance of Dr Hans Ellenberg. Dur- presence to rational analyses of spiri- nity.”
lamic Piety (1985), A Two-Colored The evolution of Muhammad (pbuh) ing those formative years, the books of tual phenomena. This multifariousness Dr Schimmel’s scholarly work
Brocade: The Imagery of Persian Po- as the Perfect Man is revealed in the Syed Ameer Ali, The Life and Teach- is evident in his major English prose reveals that Islam offers highly in-
etry (1992), Deciphering the Signs of popular songs and poetry of Muslims ings of Muhammad, or The Spirit of Is- work, The Reconstruction of Religious teresting examples of loving devo-
God: A Phenomenological Approach globally. Dr Schimmel describes vari- lam, and Tor Andrae’s masterful study Thought in Islam…and in some Eng- tion to the Prophet [pbuh]. She ob-
to Islam (1994),My Soul Is a Woman: ous exquisite folktales that reflect the Die Person Muhammads in Lehre und lish articles; but it is also, and indeed serves that, indeed, the personality
The Feminine in Islam (1997), I Am dedication and devotion of the people Glaube Seiner Gemeinde were among predominantly, expressed in Urdu and of Muhammad [pbuh] is, besides the
Wind, You Are Fire: The Life and in Turkey and Indo-Pakistan and mys- my favorites, and Andrae’s book re- Persian verse. Old images, with which Qur’an, the center of the Muslims’
Work of Rumi (1997), and The Empire tical invocations that show how the mains a source of inspiration to this Muslim readers have been familiar for life; the Prophet [pbuh] is the one
of the Great Mughals: History, Art, Sufis of North Africa and Iran have day. During my student days at Ber- centuries, are taken up in this poetry who forever remains the ‘beautiful
and Culture (2004). surrounded the Prophet (pbuh) with lin University, I enjoyed reading Su- and given new content. The Prophet model’ (Qur’an, Sura 33:21) for the
In And Muhammad Is His Mes- beautiful names. The author explains leyman Chelebi’s Mevlud-i- Sherif, a [pbuh] of Islam appears in Iqbal’s work life of all those who acknowledge in
senger — The Veneration of the that in some mystical circles Muham- simple, touching poem that tells of as in that of thousands of earlier poets the profession of faith that he is truly
Prophet in Islamic Piety Professor Dr mad (pbuh) reaches the position of the miracles at Muhammad’s [pbuh] and thinkers as the central figure of ‘the messenger of God.’
Annemarie Schimmel, using original mediator, and large groups of Mus- birth in images very similar to popular Muslim spiritual life, a figure who re- And Muhammad Is His Messenger
sources in various Islamic languages, lims have found consolation in the Christian Christmas carols, but little veals himself in constantly changing — The Veneration of the Prophet in
explains the central place of Muham- thought that he (pbuh) will intercede did I know then that I would attend facets and whose description by Iqbal Islamic Piety is a very special example
mad (pbuh) in Muslim life, mystical for them on the day of the judgement. many mevlut in the five years I spent culminates in the daring remark in the of professor Dr Annemarie Schim-
thought, and poetry. Dr Schimmel observes the veneration in Turkey as professor of Compara- Jaividnama…” mel’s scholarship on glowing love for
Commenting on the evolution of Muhammad (pbuh) as having many tive Religion in the Islamic faculty of Dr Schimmel cites a couplet from the Prophet — a source for peace and
of the book, Dr Schimmel observes: similarities in other religions. theology in Ankara. In that period, I Ramuz-i-Bekhudi that represents harmony — exhibited by individuals,
My own experience in Turkey in the It is the first English-language book learned much about the popular ven- Iqbal’s profound love for prophet communities and nations around the
1950s showed me how deeply the to deal with all aspects of the veneration eration of the Prophet [pbuh] among (pbuh): globe. The book is a must read for all
Turkish Muslims loved their Proph- of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Turkish Muslims.” From Prophethood is our founda- who want to gain insights into the radi-
et…Based on this experience I tried Professor Schimmel presents — Proph- Referring to the use of poetical and tion in the world ating love Muslims exhibit for Prophet
to gather information from poetry et Muhammad’s (pbuh) role in modern mystical sources of India and Pakistan, From Prophethood has our religion Muhammad (pbuh).
and folk traditions wherever I went. Islamic life — in twelve chapters along the author notes: “A deepening interest its ritual, (Dr Ahmed S. Khan - dr.a.s.khan@
Thus, this book is the fruit of some with a bibliography and numerous in- in the poetical and mystical literature From Prophethood are hundreds of ieee.org - is a Fulbright Specialist
thirty years of work.” formative indices and appendices: 1. of the Indo-Pakistani subcontinent thousands of us one, Scholar.)
www.Pakistanlink.com