{"id":66462,"date":"2018-10-19T22:59:09","date_gmt":"2018-10-20T04:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=66462"},"modified":"2018-10-19T22:59:09","modified_gmt":"2018-10-20T04:59:09","slug":"a-muslim-mystics-thoughts-on-political-power-and-on-the-salvation-of-non-muslims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2018\/10\/a-muslim-mystics-thoughts-on-political-power-and-on-the-salvation-of-non-muslims.html","title":{"rendered":"A Muslim mystic’s thoughts on political power and on the salvation of non-Muslims"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Alberta<\/a>
The Edmonton Alberta Temple by night \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0(Photograph from LDS.org)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are three passages from Farid al-Din \u2018Attar\u2019s famous Sufi mystical poem, written in Persian in the early thirteenth century, titled Mantiq al-Tayr<\/em> (\u201cThe Conference of the Birds\u201d). \u00a0The first two passages are about monarchs and monarchy.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the first of them, the reference is to Mahmud of Ghazni (AD 971-1030), the most prominent ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire that, in modern political terms, controlled eastern Iran, Afghanistan, and the northwestern portion of the Indian subcontinent. \u00a0The homa<\/em> is a legendary bird in Persian and Mughal mythology who always flies invisibly high; if its shadow falls upon a man, though, he is marked for the throne.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

There was a man, advanced along the Way,<\/span><\/p>\n

Who one night spoke to Mahmoud in a dream.<\/span><\/p>\n

He said:\u00a0 \u201cGreat king, how does existence seem<\/span><\/p>\n

To one beyond the grave?\u201d\u00a0 Mahmoud replied:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have no majesty since I have died;<\/span><\/p>\n

Your greetings pierce my soul.\u00a0 That majesty<\/span><\/p>\n

Was only ignorance and vanity;<\/span><\/p>\n

True majesty belongs to God alone \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n

How could a heap of dust deserve the throne?<\/span><\/p>\n

Since I have recognized my impotence,<\/span><\/p>\n

I blush for my imperial pretense.<\/span><\/p>\n

Call me \u2018unfortunate\u2019, not \u2018king\u2019.\u00a0 I should<\/span><\/p>\n

Have been a wanderer who begged for food,<\/span><\/p>\n

A crossing-sweeper, any lowly thing<\/span><\/p>\n

That drags its way through life, but not a king.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now leave me; I have nothing more to say;<\/span><\/p>\n

Hell\u2019s devils wait for me; I cannot stay.<\/span><\/p>\n

I wish to God the earth beneath my feet<\/span><\/p>\n

Had swallowed me before I heard the beat<\/span><\/p>\n

Of that accurs\u00e8d homa\u2019s wings; they cast<\/span><\/p>\n

Their shade, and may they shrivel in hell\u2019s blast!\u201d\u00a0 (44-45)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

An earthly king acts righteously at times,<\/span><\/p>\n

But also stains the earth with hateful crimes,<\/span><\/p>\n

And then whoever hovers nearest him<\/span><\/p>\n

Will suffer most from his destructive whim.<\/span><\/p>\n

A courtier risks destruction every hour \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n

Distance yourself from kings and worldly power.<\/span><\/p>\n

A king is like a raging fire, men say;<\/span><\/p>\n

The wisest conduct is to keep away.\u00a0 (46)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The last passage is interesting on many levels. \u00a0For one thing \u2014 unless it\u2019s referring to Rome in pre-Christian times, which seems unlikely given \u2018Attar\u2019s dates (ca. AD 1145-1221) \u2014 it suggests a very dim view of Christianity and\/or specifically of Catholicism. \u00a0A \u201cpagan temple\u201d and an \u201cidol\u201d in Rome?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, it also suggests a strikingly universalist view of salvation that most non-Muslims won\u2019t easily associate with what they know, or think they know, about Islam:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

One night in paradise good Gabriel heard<\/span><\/p>\n

The Lord say:\u00a0 \u201cI am here\u201d, and at His word<\/span><\/p>\n

There came another voice which wept and prayed \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho knows whose voice this is?\u201d the angel said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt comes from one, of this at least I\u2019m sure,<\/span><\/p>\n

Who has subdued the Self, whose heart is pure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But no one in the heavens knew the man,<\/span><\/p>\n

And Gabriel swooped toward the earth to scan<\/span><\/p>\n

The deserts, seas and mountains \u2013 far and wide<\/span><\/p>\n

He searched, without success, until he cried<\/span><\/p>\n

For God to lead his steps.\u00a0 \u201cSeek him in Rome,\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

God said.\u00a0 \u201cA pagan temple is his home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There Gabriel went and saw the man in tears \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n

A worthless idol ruled his hopes and fears.<\/span><\/p>\n

Astonished, Gabriel turned and said: \u201cTell me,<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Lord, the meaning of this mystery;<\/span><\/p>\n

You answer with your kindness one who prays<\/span><\/p>\n

Before a senseless idol all his days!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And God replied: \u201cHe does not know our Way;<\/span><\/p>\n

Mere ignorance has led this man astray \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n

I understand the cause of his disgrace<\/span><\/p>\n

And will not coldly turn aside My face;<\/span><\/p>\n

I shall admit him to My sanctuary<\/span><\/p>\n

Where kindness will convert his blasphemy\u201d.\u00a0 (88-89)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Posted from Calgary, Alberta, Canada<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 Here are three passages from Farid al-Din \u2018Attar\u2019s famous Sufi mystical poem, written in Persian in the early thirteenth century, titled Mantiq al-Tayr (\u201cThe Conference of the Birds\u201d). \u00a0The first two passages are about monarchs and monarchy. \u00a0 In the first of them, the reference is to Mahmud of Ghazni (AD 971-1030), the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nA Muslim mystic's thoughts on political power and on the salvation of non-Muslims<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"    Here are three passages from Farid al-Din \u2018Attar's famous Sufi mystical poem, written in Persian in the early thirteenth century, titled\" \/>\n<meta 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