Between Quran and Psalmody How Medieval Muslim Piety Integrated Two - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Between Qur’an and Psalmody

How Medieval Muslim Piety Integrated Two Notions of Scripture

DAVID R. VISHANOFF UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA VISHANOFF@OU.EDU These slides are available at vishanoff.com

T h i s r e s e a r c h w a s a s s i s t e d b y a n N E H F e l l o w s h i p f r o m t h e N a t i o n a l E n d o w m e n t f o r t h e H u m a n i t i e s a n d a n A C L S F e l l o w s h i p f r o m t h e A m e r i c a n C o u n c i l o f L e a r n e d S o c i e t i e s .

A n y v i e w s , f i n d i n g s , c o n c l u s i o n s , o r r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s e x p r e s s e d i n t h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n d o n o t n e c e s s a r i l y r e p r e s e n t t h o s e o f t h e N a t i o n a l E n d o w m e n t f o r t h e H u m a n i t i e s o r t h e A m e r i c a n C o u n c i l o f L e a r n e d S o c i e t i e s .

Sura 1.1 (Core) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but in the law of the Lord he studies night and day. He is like a tree by the water’s edge, whose leaves are not scattered and whose fruit does not fail. But ut few a are tho hose w who ho a act thus hus! The hypocrites es are not so, for God k d kno nows the he way o

• f h

hypocrit ites and t nd the he way of sinne nners; and because a hypocrite is full

• f deception, given to licentiousness, a

breaker of covenants; and because God d kno nows t the he w way o

• f t

the he G God–fearing, for they have the rank of the truthful, and they say nothing that their actions do not bear out. Psalm 1 (RSV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In In all t l that he do does, he he pr prospe

• pers. The wicke

ked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for t the e Lord knows t the e way

• f t

the r righteous, but the w way o

• f t

the wic icked w will ll perish.

1.1 (Core with Koranic ic c changes) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but in the book ( (kitāb) ) of the Lord he studies night and day. He is like a tree by the water’s edge, whose leaves are not scattered and whose fruit does not fail. But few are those who act thus! The hypocrites are not so, for God knows the way of hypocrites and the way of sinners; and because a hypocrite is full of deception, given to licentiousness, a breaker of covenants; and because God knows the way of the God– fearing, for they have the rank of the truthful, and they say nothing that their actions do not bear out. 1.1 (Core with Pious c changes) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but in the law (nāmūs)

• f the Lord he studies night and
• day. He is like a tree by the

water’s edge, whose leaves are not scattered and whose fruit does not fail. But few are those who act thus! The hypocrites are not so, for God knows the way of hypocrites and nd he he forgiv gives t the r repentant a and absolves es t the e e erran ant; and because a hypocrite is full of deception, given to licentiousness, a breaker of covenants; and t the r rank o

• f

Go God’s p prophets is the r rank o

• f the

truthful, f for they s y say t y the t e truth and a abide b by i it. 1.1 (Core with Suf ufi c cha hanges) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but in the law of the Lord he studies night and day. He is like a tree by the water’s edge, that t gi gives i its f food and p prais ises its L Lord; its l leaves es a are v e ver erdant; i it hear ars and o

• beys i

its Lord

• rd. But few are

those who act thus! The hypocrites are not so, fo for the e works o

• f hypocrit

ites a are s scattered by t the wind, b because God k knows the w e way o y of the h e hypocrites a and t the e way o y of the r e righteo eous.

Sura 1.2 (Core / Pious) David, tell the Children of Israel not to drive away the poor and no not t to c cast o

• ut

ut the he orph phan. Let them arise in the dark of night with fearful hearts and tearful eyes. Hav ave the hey no not travelle led d the he e earth a and s nd seen t n the he fate o

• f t

tho hose w who ho prec eced eded ed t them? They were greater than them, more powerful and more numerous, but punishment seized them unawares and nd no nothi hing ng remained d of t the hem but but r rui uins ns and nd the heir di dilapi pidated d houses

• es. Do they not realize that I am the Lord in

whose hand is complete dominion, who delivers, but from whose hand none can deliver? Did they not know that I am the Lord who knows what is hidden in the heavens and the earth? I I am n m not unaware o

• f what t

the evil ildoers do do.

• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1

Sura 2.1-2 (Core/Koranic/Pious/Orthodox) O David, what at do do the he na nations a and nd the he peo eoples say ay? Th They y have joine ned t togethe her agains inst t the he Lord a d and nd hi his army. They wish to extinguish God’s light with their mouths, but God refuses that his light and his holiness should be extinguished (but God perfects his light and his holiness). O David, I made de you my m messia iah h and nd my pr prophe het (I made you one who glorifies me and my prophet / I created you by my will and power), but Jesus (son of Mary) will be taken n as a God d be beside de me, on account

• f the power I vested in him, making him

raise the dead (by my leave) (by my leave, and heal the blind and the lepers). Psalm 2:1-7 (NRSV) (1) Why do do the he na nations c cons nspire, and t nd the he pe peoples pl plot i in n vain? n? (2) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take c couns unsel l togethe her, agains inst t the he LORD RD a and nd hi his ano noin inted, saying, (3) “Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.” (4) He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD has them in derision. (5) Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, (6) “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.” (7) I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “Yo You are my s son; today I have begotten you.

End of sura 2 (Sufi) The The words ds o

• f D

David: id: O Lord, what evil the people have prepared for me! But they do not realize that I am shielded and surrounded by your protection; for you reward liberally.

• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1
• Pss 2 polemicized
• Pss 3 reintroduced by S

Beginning of Psalm 3 (NRSV) A A Psalm lm o

• f D

David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying to me, “There is no help for you in God.” Selah. But you, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

Fatih 28 Florence

(Orthodox 131) O David, listen to what I say, for I speak the

• truth. I drew Moses son of ʿImrān near to myself, confiding in

him and speaking to him, and I wrote out for him the Torah […]. And to you I give the Zabūr, in which are parables, admoniti tions a and e exhortations, r reports ts from t the p past a t and announcements o

• f the future. E

Each o

• f its c

chapters ( (suwa war) is a a psalm ( m (mazmūr) w which I I cause your to tongue to to declaim, making clear the Zabūr that has been recited to you, that it might be a guide to the Children of Israel, an exhortation to those who come after you, and a healing for the afflictions of the heart. (Orthodox 114) I sent down to you the Zabūr as an exhortation and a reminder, so recite te i it a as it s should be r recited. […] I I have c commanded th the m mountains to a answer you, echoing your praises morning and evening. O ye mountains, join David in praising me! Let th t the birds jo join h him in sanctifying me, and every star I have made. (Pious 19) O David, I sent down to you my Zabūr, just like what I sent down in the Torah. O David, my my b books, in which I sent down to my prophets revelation a and g guidance, w will be corrupte ted, and lies will be fabricated against me; but whoever holds fast to what my prophets have brought, and does not diverge from my S Shar haria, a, has succeeded and prospered. I am Mighty and Wise.

• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1
• Pss 2 polemicized
• Pss 3 reintroduced by S
• Qur’anic elements
• Form & content

Sura 20:1-3 (Core) O David, listen to what I say! Command Solomon to proclaim after you that I I will ll give the e earth a as an inhe nherit itance t to M Muha uhammad and his community. They are [my true] worshipers, and the hey a are no not like y you: u: the hey do do no not r ring ng be bells, no nor do do the hey w worship i hip ido

• dols. If

you wish to worship me, then weep much! Every hour in which you do not invoke my name is an hour lost. Q 21:105 We wrote in the Zabūr, after the Remembrance, that m my rig ighteous servants will ll in inherit t the earth. h. Pss 37:29 The he righteous us s sha hall inhe nherit it the he l land, nd, and live in it forever.

• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1
• Pss 2 polemicized
• Pss 3 reintroduced by S
• Qur’anic elements
• Form & content

Sufi 107 David David, M Muhammad ammad i is the p praiseworthy o

• ne, exalted,

uppermost, and esteemed. […] He is not bedazzled by the beauty and splendour of this world. In him resides the l light o

• f both s

sun and m

• moon. […] Fo

For his s sake I e I unbur burde den t n the cloud uds when they are overloaded with rain and beg me for relief. Were it not for him, I would not have put Adam on earth or filled the world with life. […] But there will come forth a people c e claiming t to b be m monk nks who will e erase h se his n s name f e from t thei heir scriptures.

• es. Do you

know, David, why those disbelievers concoct this in their minds? It is because Satan lay with their mothers alongside their fathers, so that his sperm mixed with

• theirs. So they erred and disbelieved, led many others

astray, and wandered from the level path. Whoever believes in Muhammad has taken hold of faith, but whoever disbelieves in Muhammad has disbelieved in me and in my scriptures. Whoever believes in the Torah, the Gospel and the Psalms, and makes n es no dis istinctio ion b between a any of

• f my

y boo

• oks, I will abundantly
• reward. For I

I am mighty and w wise.

• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1
• Pss 2 polemicized
• Pss 3 reintroduced by S
• Qur’anic elements
• Form & content

Moses 29.1 = BPM 168.1, quoting Q 3:102 O ye who believe, fear God with the fear that is due him, and do not die without being Muslims. (Orthodox 119.1, paraphrasing Q 112)

ﺔﺑﺣﺎﺻ ذﺧّﺗأ مﻟو دﻟوأ مﻟو دﻟأ مﻟ دﻣﺻ دﺣأ دﺣاو ﻲﻧأ ﻻو دﺣأ ًاوﻔﻛ ﻲﻟ نﻛﯾ مﻟو ًادﻟو.

Koranic 101 By By the n night w when it g grows dark; by the day when it grows bright! […] Ha Happy i is he w who recei eives es h his book

• k in

in h his r rig ight hand d and goes off to his people with his face beaming; but wretched is he who receives his book in his left hand

• r behind his back, and goes off to his people with a

scowling face, his color turned pale, his lips swollen, and his tongue hanging out. […] I I know w the u he uns nseen een o

• f the

he heavens a and t the e earth, and I know which eyes are faithless and what at each ch h heart rt co conceals. . I I am H Hearing a and Knowing.

• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1
• Pss 2 polemicized
• Pss 3 reintroduced by S
• Qur’anic elements
• Form & content
• Quotations and

allusions

Sufi 58.1 The The words ds o

• f D

David id (peace be upon him): the he mountains glorify you f u from e every s slope pe, the he t trees with e ever ery l lea eaf, t the e des eser erts w with ever ery grain o

• f

sand, nd, t the he s seas w with e every dr drop p of water, the seven heavens and the seven earths from every quarter and every corner, the angels in every row with every feather. So too the rays of the sun, the light

• f day, the darkness of night, and the flanks of the

clouds; and so t too the he bl blood, v veins ns, l limbs, and nd eyes

• f every l

living ng t thi hing ng, hum human, j jinn, be nn, beast, , or cattle. The words of God, The words of God, the magnificent and majestic, concerning adultery and hardship: Did y d you u no not kno now I I am t the he L Lord d to w who hom a all t thi hing ngs in n he heaven n and o nd on n earth h bo bow do down—bi birds ds, , clouds ds, s , seas, , stars, trees, be beasts, the he e earths hs a and s nd skies, both what is hidden from humankind and what is not hidden from them? They all acknowledge my lordship and concede their servitude, abjectly listening and

• beying.
• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1
• Pss 2 polemicized
• Pss 3 reintroduced by S
• Qur’anic elements
• Form & content
• Quotations and

allusions

• Biblical elements
• Worship

Core 29 Dav avid said: My God, my sins have worn out my face, weakened my frame, and wounded my heart. My God, do does t the he Devil il ha have no no othe her ne net tha han w n women? n? My God I have humbled my face before you; I pray to you night and day, if only you would receive me. Koranic 108 Praise to you, my God! Forgive me my sin, for truly my sin upsets me and saps my strength . My God, if you do not forgive me I will be left penniless among the destitute. But what is my sin to one as great as you, O my God, and what is my punishment to one who rules over everything? My God, make me one

• f the righteous, who do not keep going back to

their sins, and give me a tongue of truth and

• holiness. If I utter praises, let my tongue declare

your holiness; when I declare your praises, let my cares take wing, and let my bones exalt you. For you are Wealthy and Worthy of praise.

• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1
• Pss 2 polemicized
• Pss 3 reintroduced by S
• Qur’anic elements
• Form & content
• Quotations and

allusions

• Biblical elements
• Worship
• Penitence and calls for

help

Core 96 David said: O Lord, do not lead me to ruin; do do no not let my e ene nemie ies g gloat o

• ver me; do

do no not cast me f from your do door; do do no not make me de despa pair ir o

• f y

your mercy. My God, give me a truthful l tongue t that c call lls o

• n

you, a and a nd a he heart tha hat l listens ns and o nd obe beys. . Do not busy me with the affairs of the people, but busy me with remembering you, and occupy my heart with obeying you. […] My God, grant me the coolness of your forgiveness, and the sweetness of dialogue with you. If one of my many enemies wills me evil, stand him on his head! O Lord, how could my heart not be stronger than iron, when you are my support and my glory? O God, O ruler of land and sea, grant me to be be he held d in n awe by k king ngs, for you are the mighty king. Sufi 2:4 O David, be be de devoted t to me, and nd I will c caus use he heads ds to bo bow be before you, u, and clothe your face with dignity.

• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1
• Pss 2 polemicized
• Pss 3 reintroduced by S
• Qur’anic elements
• Form & content
• Quotations and

allusions

• Biblical elements
• Worship
• Penitence and calls for

help

Koranic 4.3 O David, say to the attendants who tend my House, relying fully on me and not on what the people have to offer them: “Look a at the he bi birds; t the hey ne neithe her pl plow no nor toil no nor sow, , and nd yet e each h da day the hey receive a ane new t the heir ir f ful ull pr provision of a ample ple no

• nourishment. All this is under my supervision and

management, for I know all things.” Koranic 5.5 Blessed Blessed are the a anxi xious, t those stricken w wit ith f fear, who comfort orphans with food and nourishment. Bles essed ed a are t e those w who w withdraw in silen ence from society and its vices, whose souls are afforded the most sublime insight. Blessed ed are e those w who r rise t to spe pend t nd the he ni night in n vigil. . But ut w woe t to t tho hose w who ho go looking for a adultery! The least that I will do to adulterers is to blot out the glow of health from their faces and wipe away both their lifespan and their livelihood. Blessed are those who think too highly of me to gaze on the private parts of those forbidden to them, fearing my punishment.

• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1
• Pss 2 polemicized
• Pss 3 reintroduced by S
• Qur’anic elements
• Form & content
• Quotations and

allusions

• Biblical elements
• Worship
• Penitence and calls for

help

• Other Biblical books

• Introduction
• Origins and recensions
• Anchored in Pss 1 & 2
• Pss 1 paraphrased
• Addition to Pss 1
• Pss 2 polemicized
• Pss 3 reintroduced by S
• Qur’anic elements
• Form & content
• Quotations and allusions
• Biblical elements
• Worship
• Penitence and calls for help
• Other Biblical books
• Conclusions
• Rewritten Bible or Qur’an?
• Internal exhortation
• Shared piety and symbols