Narrating Muhammad's Night Journey

Frederick S. Colby

Description

This book provides an exhaustive examination of the historical development of a key story in the life of Muhammad, the tale told of his journey to the divine realm and back. It shows how in the early centuries of the Islamic community, both Sunnī and Shī'ī Muslims appropriated this fascinating story and interpreted it to suit their own ends. In particular, the book traces the development of a critical and influential strand of this rich ascension literature ascribed to one of Muhammad's famous companions, the scholar known as Ibn 'Abbas. Frederick S. Colby demonstrates that this version of the tale originated in the early period and spread throughout the Islamic world, affecting how people from Spain to Afghanistan came to think about Muhammad and his legacy. Colby also includes translations of richly textured ascension narratives that have never before appeared in English.
Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction

1. Muhammad’s Night Journey in the Qurān

The Night Journey Verse
Verses from the Chapter of the Overturning
The Opening Verses of the Chapter of the Star
The Appropriation of Terms and Phrases from the Qurān
The Heavenly Host Debate
The Final Verses (Seals) of the Chapter of the Cow
Passing References to the Ascension in the Qurān

2. Orality and the Primitive Version of the Ibn 'Abbās Ascension Narrative

Approaching Ibn 'Abbās and the Primitive Version
Comparatively Analyzing the Primitive Version
Authenticating and Dating the Circulation of the Primitive Version
Echoes of Muqātil b. Sulaymān’s Commentary in the Primitive Version
Tracing the Beginnings of the Primitive Version

3. Early Historical Descriptions of Muhammad’s Journey

From Qurān and Oral Reports to Early Narrative History: Ibn Ishāq
Ibn Ishāq’s Account of the Prophet’s Night Journey
as Narrated by Ibn Hishām
Ibn Ishāq’s Account of the Heavenly Journey
as Narrated by Ibn Hishām
The Early Ascension Narrative as Presented in Ibn Sa'd’s History
The Night Journey as Narrated by Ibn Sa'd

4. Proto-Sh' Narratives of Heavenly Ascent
The Ascension Experiences of Proto-Sh' “Extremists”
Ascension-related Sayings in Ṣaffār Qumm’s Collection
The Qurān Commentary of Furāt Kūf

5. Canonical Sunn adth Reports
on Muhammad’s Journey
Night Journey and Ascension adth Reports
in Bukhār and Muslim
adth Reports from the Collection of Nasā
adth Reports from the Collection of Tirmidh

6. The Use and Appropriation of the Ibn 'Abbās Discourse in Commentaries

Night Journey and Ascension Accounts in abar’s Tafsr
The Abū Hurayra Ascension Narrative from abar’s Tafsr
The Abū Sa'd Khudr Ascension Narrative from abar’s Tafsr
The Appropriation of the Primitive Version in Other Early Commentaries
The Use of the Primitive Version in 'Al Qumm’s Tafsr
The Use of the Primitive Version in Tha'lab’s Tafsr

7. Contesting the Primitive Version in Nishapur

Ibn ibbān’s Rejection of the Primitive Version
Sulam and His Compilation of Sufi Sayings on Muhammad’s Ascension
Qushayr and His Kitāb al-mi'rāj
The Extended Cosmological Ascension adth
Bayhaq’s Rejection of the Extended Ascension Narratives

8. Bakr’s Complete and Perfect Ibn 'Abbās Discourse

The Events Prior to the Night Journey in Texts That Invoke Bakr
Muhammad’s Night Journey to Jerusalem in Texts That Invoke Bakr
Bakr Versions of Muhammad’s Journey through the Heavens
Muhammad’s Journey beyond the Seven Heavens in Bakr Texts
Dating the Ascension Narratives Ascribed to Abū al-asan Bakr

9. The Circulation and Diffusion of Bakr’s Versions

The Base Narrative behind Ibn Snā’s Allegorical Treatise
Evidence from Sixth/Twelfth-Century North Africa
Liber Scale and the Diffusion of the Bakr Versions in the Seventh/Thirteenth Century
An Anonymous Eastern Persian Mi'rājnāma
Conclusion

Appendix A: Translation of the Primitive Version
Appendix B: Bakr’s “Complete and Perfect” Ascension
Glossary: Key Themes and Tropes in the
Ibn 'Abbās Ascension Narratives

Notes
Works Cited
Index

Sujets

• Theology
• History of religions
• Islam

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 06 août 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791477885
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

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N ARRATING M UḤAMMAD ’ S N IGHT J OURNEY

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N ARRATING M UḤAMMAD ’ S N IGHT J OURNEY

Tracing the Development of the Ibn ʿAbbās Ascension Discourse

F REDERICK S. C OLBY

S TATE U NIVERSITY OF N EW Y ORK P RESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2008 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu

Production by Dana Foote Marketing by Anne M. Valentine

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Colby, Frederick Stephen, 1969– Narrating Muhammad’s night journey : tracing the development of the Ibn ʿAbbas ascension discourse / Frederick S. Colby. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 9780791475171 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Muhammad, Prophet, d. 632—Isra and Miʿraj. 2. ʿAbd Allah ibn alʿAbbas, d. 688? Israʾ waalMiʿraj. I. Title. BP166.57.C65 2008 297.6'33—dc22 2007037534

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C ONTENTS

List of Illustrations / ix

Acknowledgments / xi

Abbreviations / xiii

I NTRODUCTION /1

1 M UḤAMMAD ’ S N IGHT J OURNEY IN THE Q UR ʾ ĀN /13 The Night Journey Verse /13 Verses from the Chapter of the Overturning /16 The Opening Verses of the Chapter of the Star /17 The Appropriation of Terms and Phrases from the Qurʾān /21 The Heavenly Host Debate /22 The Final Verses (Seals) of the Chapter of the Cow /23 Passing References to the Ascension in the Qurʾān /24

2 O RALITY AND THE P RIMITIVE V ERSION OF THE I BN ʿA BBĀS A SCENSION N ARRATIVE /29 Approaching Ibn ʿAbbās and the Primitive Version /30 Comparatively Analyzing the Primitive Version /35 Authenticating and Dating the Circulation of the Primitive Version /42 Echoes of Muqātil b. Sulaymān’s Commentary in the Primitive Version /46 Tracing the Beginnings of the Primitive Version /48

3 E ARLY H ISTORICAL D ESCRIPTIONS OF M UḤAMMAD ’ S J OURNEY /51 From Qurʾān and Oral Reports to Early Narrative History: Ibn Isḥāq /51 Ibn Isḥāq’s Account of the Prophet’s Night Journey as Narrated by Ibn Hishām /53

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C ONTENTS

Ibn Isḥāq’s Account of the Heavenly Journey as Narrated by Ibn Hishām /55 The Early Ascension Narrative as Presented in Ibn Saʿd’sHistory/57 The Night Journey as Narrated by Ibn Saʿd /59

4 P ROTO S HĪ ʿ Ī N ARRATIVES OF H EAVENLY A SCENT /65 The Ascension Experiences of ProtoShīʿī “Extremists” /65 Ascensionrelated Sayings in Ṣaffār Qummī’s Collection /67 The Qurʾān Commentary of Furāt Kūfī /72

5 C ANONICAL S UNNĪ Ḥ ADĪTH R EPORTS ON M UḤAMMAD ’ S J OURNEY /79 Night Journey and AscensionḤadīthReports in Bukhārī and Muslim /81 ḤadīthReports from the Collection of Nasāʾī /85 ḤadīthReports from the Collection of Tirmidhī /87

6 T HE U SE AND A PPROPRIATION OF THE I BN ʿA BBĀS D ISCOURSE IN C OMMENTARIES /93 Night Journey and Ascension Accounts in Ṭabarī’sTafsīr/93 The Abū Hurayra Ascension Narrative from Ṭabarī’sTafsīr/96 The Abū Saʿīd Khudrī Ascension Narrative from Ṭabarī’sTafsīr/101 The Appropriation of the Primitive Version in Other Early Commentaries /104 The Use of the Primitive Version in ʿAlī Qummī’sTafsīr/105 The Use of the Primitive Version in Thaʿlabī’sTafsīr/108

7 C ONTESTING THE P RIMITIVE V ERSION IN N ISHAPUR /113 Ibn Ḥibbān’s Rejection of the Primitive Version /114 Sulamī and His Compilation of Sufi Sayings on Muḥammad’s Ascension /115 Qushayrī and HisKitāb almiʿrāj/116 The Extended Cosmological AscensionḤadīth/118 Bayhaqī’s Rejection of the Extended Ascension Narratives /123

8 B AKRĪ ’ S T OTAL AND C OMPLETE I BN ʿA BBĀS D ISCOURSE /127 The Events Prior to the Night Journey in Texts That Invoke Bakrī /129 Muḥammad’s Night Journey to Jerusalem in Texts That Invoke Bakrī /133 Bakrī Versions of Muḥammad’s Journey through the Heavens /136 Muḥammad’s Journey beyond the Seven Heavens in Bakrī Texts /141 Dating the Ascension Narratives Ascribed to Abū alḤasan Bakrī /145

C ONTENTS

9 T HE C IRCULATION AND D IFFUSION OF B AKRĪ ’ S V ERSIONS /149 The Base Narrative behind Ibn Sīnā’s Allegorical Treatise /150 Evidence from Sixth / Twelfthcentury North Africa /154 Liber Scaleand the Diffusion of the Bakrī Versions in the Seventh / Thirteenth Century /156 An Anonymous Eastern PersianMiʿrājnāma/158

C ONCLUSION /165

Appendix A: Translation of the Primitive Version / 175

Appendix B: Bakrī’s “Total and Complete” Ascension / 195

Glossary: Key Themes and Tropes in the Ibn ʿAbbās Ascension Narratives / 235

Notes / 241

Works Cited / 295

Index / 305

Index of Qurʾānic Verses / 313

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I LLUSTRATIONS

F IGURES

1 The Four Major Angels at the Beginning of the Primitive Version / 33 2 The Three Primary Topics of Conversation in the Intimate Colloquy Scenes / 34

T ABLES

1 The Seven Heavens in Texts Related to the Ibn ʿAbbās Ascension Narrative / 138 2 Comparison and Contrast between the Primitive and the Bakrī Versions / 148 3 Comparison and Contrast between the Bakrī Versions andLiber Scale/ 157 4 Comparison and Contrast between the Bakrī Versions and Ayasofya 3441 / 161 5 Temporal and Geographical Chart of Authors, Transmitters, Historical Events / 168

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