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) Psalm 1 (RSV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the Blessed is the man who walks not in counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the the counsel of the wicked, nor stands way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of in the way of sinners, nor sits in the scoffers; but in the law of the Lord he seat of scoffers; but his delight is in studies night and day. He is like a tree by the law of the Lord, and on his law he the water’s edge, whose leaves are not meditates day and night. He is like a scattered and whose fruit does not fail. tree planted by streams of water, that But ut few a are tho hose w who ho a act thus hus! The yields its fruit in its season, and its hypocrites es are not so, for God k d kno nows the he leaf does not wither. In In all t l that he way o of h hypocrit ites and t nd the he way of do does, he he pr prospe pers. The wicke ked are not sinne nners; and because a hypocrite is full so, but are like chaff which the wind of deception, given to licentiousness, a drives away. Therefore the wicked will breaker of covenants; and because God d not stand in the judgment, nor kno nows t the he w way o of t the he G God–fearing, for sinners in the congregation of the they have the rank of the truthful, and righteous; for t the e Lord knows t the e way they say nothing that their actions do of t the r righteous, but the w way o of t the not bear out. wic icked w will ll perish.
1.1 (Core with Koranic ic c changes) 1.1 (Core with Pious c changes) 1.1 (Core with Suf ufi c cha hanges) Blessed is the man who walks Blessed is the man who walks Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, not in the counsel of the not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, wicked, nor stands in the way of nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; nor sits in the seat of scoffers; sinners, nor sits in the seat of but in the book ( ( kitāb ) ) of the scoffers; but in the law ( nāmūs ) but in the law of the Lord he Lord he studies night and day. of the Lord he studies night and studies night and day. He is like a He is like a tree by the water’s day. He is like a tree by the tree by the water’s edge, that t edge, whose leaves are not water’s edge, whose leaves are gives i gi its f food and p prais ises its L Lord; scattered and whose fruit does its l leaves es a are v e ver erdant; i it hear ars not scattered and whose fruit not fail. But few are those who does not fail. But few are those and o obeys i its Lord rd. But few are act thus! The hypocrites are not who act thus! The hypocrites those who act thus! The so, for God knows the way of are not so, for God knows the hypocrites are not so, fo for the e hypocrites and the way of way of hypocrites and nd he he works o of hypocrit ites a are s scattered sinners; and because a hypocrite by t the wind, b because God k knows forgiv gives t the r repentant a and is full of deception, given to absolves es t the e e erran ant; and the w e way o y of the h e hypocrites a and t the e licentiousness, a breaker of because a hypocrite is full of way o y of the r e righteo eous. covenants; and because God deception, given to knows the way of the God– licentiousness, a breaker of fearing, for they have the rank of covenants; and t the r rank o of the truthful, and they say God’s p Go prophets is the r rank o of the nothing that their actions do not truthful, f for they s y say t y the t e truth bear out. and a abide b by i it.
• Introduction Sura 1.2 (Core / Pious) • Origins and recensions David, tell the Children of Israel not to drive • Anchored in Pss 1 & 2 away the poor and no not t to c cast o out ut the he orph phan. • Pss 1 paraphrased Let them arise in the dark of night with fearful • Addition to Pss 1 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 of 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 of what t the evil ildoers do do.
Sura 2.1-2 (Core/Koranic/Pious/Orthodox) Psalm 2:1-7 (NRSV) O David, what at do do the he na nations a and nd the he (1) Why do do the he na nations c cons nspire, peo eoples say ay? Th They y have joine ned t togethe her and t nd the he pe peoples pl plot i in n vain? n? (2) The agains inst t the he Lord a d and nd hi his army. They wish kings of the earth set themselves, to extinguish God’s light with their and the rulers take c couns unsel l mouths, but God refuses that his light and togethe her, agains inst t the he LORD RD a and nd hi his his holiness should be extinguished (but ano noin inted, saying, (3) “Let us burst God perfects his light and his holiness). their bonds asunder, and cast their O David, I made de you my m messia iah h and nd my cords from us.” (4) He who sits in prophe pr het (I made you one who glorifies me the heavens laughs; the LORD has and my prophet / I created you by my will them in derision. (5) Then he will and power), but Jesus (son of Mary) will speak to them in his wrath, and be taken n as a God d be beside de me, on account terrify them in his fury, saying, (6) “I of the power I vested in him, making him have set my king on Zion, my holy raise the dead (by my leave) (by my leave, hill.” (7) I will tell of the decree of and heal the blind and the lepers). the LORD: He said to me, “Yo You are my s son; today I have begotten you.
• Introduction End of sura 2 (Sufi) • Origins and recensions • Anchored in Pss 1 & 2 The words The ds o of D David: id: O Lord, what evil the people have prepared for me! But they do not realize that • Pss 1 paraphrased I am shielded and surrounded by your protection; • Addition to Pss 1 for you reward liberally. • Pss 2 polemicized • Pss 3 reintroduced by S Beginning of Psalm 3 (NRSV) A A Psalm lm o of 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
• Introduction (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 • Origins and recensions him and speaking to him, and I wrote out for him the Torah […]. And to you I give the Zabūr, in which are parables, • Anchored in Pss 1 & 2 admoniti tions a and e exhortations, r reports ts from t the p past a t and • Pss 1 paraphrased announcements o of the future. E Each o of its c chapters ( ( suwa war ) is a a psalm ( m ( mazmūr ) w which I I cause your to tongue to to declaim, making • Addition to Pss 1 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 • Pss 2 polemicized come after you, and a healing for the afflictions of the heart. • Pss 3 reintroduced by S (Orthodox 114 ) I sent down to you the Zabūr as an • Qur’anic elements 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 • Form & content 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.
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