BEAUTY AND THE BELOVED: SARAPA IN 16TH CENTURY HINDAVI SUFI ROMANCE MRIGAVATI
Journal Title: Social Affairs - Year 2016, Vol 1, Issue 5
Abstract
Islam is generally understood to be opposed to fgural depictions of sacred objects. Yet in medieval literature and paintings, we fnd examples where God’s beauty is artfully depicted. This article frstly traces the rich debates within Islamic theology and underscores why anthropomorphism is juxtaposed with the principle of monotheism or Tauhid. The article then highlights how Suf hermeneutics, and specifcally Ibn al Arabi, brings forth an interpretation that allowed Suf writers such as Qutban Suharvardy to write in nuanced ways about the beauty of God. Interestingly, these were deeply embedded in Quran and Ahadith, unlike what many Oriental scholars who view Sufsm as a derivative of other religions, would anticipate. Then, it dwells upon the compelling ways in which Persian literature, Indian aesthetics, miniature painting, and Sufsm interacted to bring forth the 16th century masterpiece known as Mrigavati.
Authors and Affiliations
Ilma Qureshi
Keywords
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