Comprehensive Study Guide to Persian Literature and Ethics

THE MUNAJAT OF KHWAJA ABDULLAH ANSARI

• Definition of Munajat: In Islamic literature and theology, it refers to prayer and spiritual conversation with God at His threshold.
• Saj' (Rhymed Prose): Khwaja Abdullah Ansari is famously known for his rhymed prose, which is a style of writing where phrases end in rhyming words (Saj'). The word Saj' literally means the "voice of a bird" (specifically the pigeon or dove). It functions in prose much like rhyme (Qafiyeh) does in poetry.
• Khwaja Abdullah Ansari Profile:
  • Full Name: Sheikh-ul-Islam Abdullah bin Mohammad Ansari Harawi.
  • Life Dates: Born in $396$ AH (AH - Hijri Qamari) and died in $481$ AH.
  • Education and Legacy: He was a renowned narrator of Hadith, commentator on the Quran (Mufassir), mystic (Arif), and poet from Herat, Afghanistan.
  • Works: "Munajatnameh" (his most famous work in rhymed prose), "Resalah Del-o-Jan," "Resalah Varidat," "Kenz-al-Salakin" (verse and prose), "Qalandarnameh," and "Mahabbatnameh."
  • Burial: He is buried in the Gazar-gah district of Herat.

THE NA'T OF SAADI SHIRAZI

• Definition of Na't: Poetry or prose written in praise and description of the qualities of the Prophet Muhammad.
• Saadi Shirazi Profile:
  • Full Name: Mushrifuddin Muslih bin Abdullah Saadi Shirazi.
  • Life Dates: Born in the early $7^{th}$ century AH and died between $691$ AH and $694$ AH.
  • Education: Studied at the Nizamiyah School in Baghdad.
  • Famous Travels: Iraq, Syria (Sham), and Hijaz.
  • Major Works: "Bustan" (or "Saadinameh") written in verse in $655$ AH; "Gulistan" written in mixed prose and verse in $656$ AH.
  • Structure of Gulistan: Contains $8$ chapters focusing on the behavior of kings, dervish ethics, the virtue of contentment, silence, love, old age, education, and conversation etiquette.
• Literary Allusions in the Na't:
  • Shaqq al-Qamar: Reference to the miracle of splitting the moon.
  • Ivan of Khosrow: The cracking of the Ctesiphon palace arch at the Prophet's birth, symbolizing the decline of Sassanid power.
  • Gabriel: Referred to as "Hamil-e-Wahy" (The Carrier of Revelation).

LITERATURE FROM THE ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

• Multifaceted Definition of "Adab" (Literature/Etiquette):
  • Disciplining and refining the soul.
  • Human knowledge and experiences.
  • Guiding humans toward linguistic, behavioral, and moral beauty.
• The Prophet's View on Adab: The Prophet Muhammad stated: "Verily the Quran is God's place of etiquette (Adab-gah) on Earth; so learn from it." He also said: "My Lord disciplined me, so He made my discipline excellent."
• ILM-AL-ADAB (Literary Science): Knowledge that allows one to write correct poetry and beautiful prose, distinguishing between beautiful and ugly or correct and incorrect speech.
• Traditional Branches of Literature: Sarf (morphology), Nahw (syntax), Loghat (vocabulary), Ishtiqagh (derivation), Ma'ani (semantics), Biyan (rhetoric), Badi' (literary devices), and Aruz (prosody/meter/rhyme).
• Essential Elements of Literature: Thought (Mifkorah) and Artistic Form (Qaleb-e-Fanni).
• Key Features of Islamic Literature:
  • Ideological Commitment: Based on the Islamic worldview regarding humanity and existence.
  • Purposefulness: It seeks a beneficial goal, as the Muslim artist avoids wasting time on fruitlessness.
  • Comprehensiveness: Addresses the human as a composite of body and soul to create harmony.
  • Realism: Unlike Western realism (materialistic), it views human weakness as a stage that can be refined and perfected.
  • Positivity: Encourages movement from despair toward hope and happiness.
  • Rejection of "Art for Art's Sake": Literature must serve virtue, ethics, and humanity.

ABU AL-MA'ANI MIRZA ABDUL QADIR BEDIL

• Biography:
  • Born in $1054$ AH in Azimabad, Patna, India. His lineage traces back to the Arlas tribe of Badakhshan, Afghanistan.
  • Lost his father at age $4.5$ and was raised by his uncle, Mirza Qalandar.
  • Skilled in wrestling and ascetic practices (Tazkiyah).
  • Died on $4^{th}$ Safar, $1133$ AH.
• Poetic Style and Language:
  • A master of the "Indian Style" (Sabk-e-Hindi), characterized by complex imagery, deep philosophical concepts, and subtle connections.
  • Often called the "Poet of Mirrors" (Sha'ir-e-Ayineha) due to his frequent use of mirrors as a metaphor for the heart and existence.
  • Frequent use of the word "Hich" (Nothingness) to represent mystical annihilation of the self.
• Major Works (Over $90,000$ verses):
  • Mathnawi "Irfan," "Muhit-e-Azam," "Tilis-e-Hayrat," and "Tur-e-Ma'rifat."
  • Diwan of Ghazals, Ruba'iyat (Quatrains), "Chahar Unsur," "Ruqa'at," and "Nukat."

INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIAL INDEPENDENCE

• Definitions:
  • Independence/Freedom: The authority to act or refrain from acting, provided it does not violate the rights of others.
  • Individual Independence: Includes personal safety, sanctity of home, freedom of career, and freedom of speech/press.
• Ibn Khaldun's Theory: The great sociologist stated that an unjust government is better than anarchy (state of no government) because anarchy leads to the complete loss of social freedom and the rule of brute force.
• Role of Education: Freedom is linked to intellectual growth. Education helps individuals understand their legal and moral obligations regarding the rights of others.

THE BOOK OF KALILA AND DIMNA

• Origins: Originally written in Sanskrit as "Panchatantra" (Five Advices) in India.
• Translations:
  • Burzoy (physician of Anushirvan) translated it into Middle Persian (Pahlevi).
  • Ibn al-Muqaffa translated it from Pahlevi to Arabic.
  • Nasrullah Munshi translated it into Dari prose.
  • Rudaki and later Mir Bahadur Wasifi Badakhshi created verse translations.
• Title Meaning: Named after two jackals, Kalila and Dimna, who appear in the first chapter.
• Content: Uses animal fables to teach ethics, politics, and the art of living.
• Structure: Traditionally $15$ to $18$ chapters. Core Sanskrit chapters include: "The Lion and the Ox," "The Friendship of Pigeons," "The Cat and the Mouse," "The Lion and the Jackal," and "The Monkey and the Tortoise."

POETIC FORMS IN DARI LITERATURE

• Classical Forms:
  • Qasida: Single meter and rhyme, focused on praise, wisdom, or social issues. Minimum $15$ verses (average $20$-$80$).
  • Ghazal: Focused on love, ethics, or mysticism. Usually $5$ to $12$ verses.
  • Masnavi: Each verse has its own rhyme. Used for long stories and history.
  • Ruba'i (Quatrain): Two verses ($4$ lines) on the meter "La Hawla wa la Quwwata illa billah."
  • Qit'ah: Single rhyme without a rhyming first verse (Matla). Minimum $2$ verses.
  • Tarji-band/Tarkib-band: Series of poems with a repeating linking verse.
  • Mussamat: Poem divided into small sections with specific rhyming patterns.
  • Mustazad: Verses with an added short rhythmic line at the end.
• Modern Forms:
  • Nimaic Poetry: Founded by Nima Yushij ($1318$ SH). Retains meter but allows variable line lengths and free rhyming.
  • White Poetry (Sepid): No fixed meter; focuses on choice of words and imagination.

THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

• Characteristics of Effective Speech: Logical and scientific, non-emotional/non-angry, clear and simple, comprehensive, and respectful.
• Key Tips for Speakers:
  • Develop self-confidence and a positive mindset.
  • Never memorize word-for-word; memorize general concepts.
  • Use visual aids (PowerPoint), hands for expression, and appropriate clothing.
  • Manage the audience: If they check their watches or adjust their seats frequently, they are bored or the timing is too long.
  • End with a summary and a touch of humor.

ILM AL-MA'ANI (SEMANTICS)

• Definition: The branch of rhetoric studying the conformity of speech to the context and requirements of the audience.
• Key Concepts:
  • Khabar (News): Speech that can be judged as true or false.
  • Insha (Construction): Speech where truth/falsehood is not applicable (commands, prayers, questions).
  • Ijaz (Brevity): Expressing grand meaning in few words.
  • Itnab (Prolixity): Elongating speech if the audience needs clarification.
  • Fasl (Disjunction) and Wasl (Connection): The study of when to use or omit the conjunction "and" (Wav).

AMIR ALI-SHIR NAVA'I

• Profile: Scholar, historian, musician, and vizier of the Timurid era in Herat.
• Born: $844$ AH in Herat; Died: $906$ AH.
• Legacy: Known as "Zul-Lisanain" (Master of Two Tongues) for writing in both Turkish (Chaghatai) and Dari.
• Contributions: Founded over $370$ charitable buildings including schools, libraries, clinics, and the Jami Mosque of Herat. Created a world-class library for researchers.
• Major Works: The "Khamsa" (five poems): "Hayrat-al-Abrar," "Farhad-o-Shirin," "Leyli-o-Majnun," "Sadd-i Iskandari," and "Sab'a Sayyar."

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

• Islamic Prohibition: Quran (Surah Al-Ma'idah $90$-$91$) defines wine as a "defilement from the work of Satan."
• Scientific Damages:
  • Nervous System: Addiction, memory loss, and aggression.
  • Blood: Alcohol at $1\%$ causes red blood cells to lose oxygen absorption and increases pulse by $10$ beats per minute.
  • Heart: Causes arteriosclerosis and increases the risk of heart attacks.
  • Liver: Leads to "Pooki-ye Jegar" (Cirrhosis), resulting in premature death.
  • Vitamins: Destroys Vitamin $B_6$, leading to anemia and physical paralysis.

CHAHAR MAQALA (THE FOUR ESSAYS)

• Author: Abul Hasan Ahmad Samarqandi, known as Nizami Aruzi ($550$ AH).
• Essential Pillars of Monarchy: Nizami argues that a stable government requires four experts:
  1. Secretary (Dabir): For administration and state-writing.
  2. Poet (Sha'ir): For the king's reputation and record.
  3. Astrologer (Najum): For determining auspicious times.
  4. Physician (Tabib): For maintaining the king's health.
• Style: Simple, fluent, and precise prose, similar to "Siyasatnameh" and "Tarikh-e Bayhaqi."

ABDUL HAI HABIBI AND JAMSHID SHOLA

• Pohand Abdul Hai Habibi ($1289$-$1363$ SH):
  • Born in Kandahar. Editor of the "Tulu-e-Afghan" newspaper for $10$ years.
  • Professor at Kabul University; historian and researcher in Dari and Pashto.
  • Works: "Afghanistan After Islam," "History of Script in Afghanistan," "Constitutionalism Movement in Afghanistan."
• Jamshid Shola ($1287$-$1374$ SH):
  • Born in Chah Ab, Takhar. Poet of the Indian Style.
  • Served in the Loya Jirga ($1312$ SH) and worked in agriculture later.
  • Works: Collected poems ($800$ pages), "History of the Heroes of Chah Ab," "Prison Diaries."

LINGUISTIC AND SPELLING RULES (DOROST BENEVISIM)

• Words Ending in Alif: If a word ends in Alif (e.g., Khoda) and is used as an adjective or possessive, a "y" is added independently ($Khoday-e-Bozorg$).
• Words Ending in Alif with Suffixes:
  • Plural "An": Add "y" ($Nanvayan$).
  • Diminutive "Ak": Add "g" ($Zibagak$).
• Words Ending in Wav: When adding suffixes (plural "An" or name-maker "i"), add "y" ($Mahruyan$, $Nikuyi$).
• Words Ending in Silent 'He':
  • Possessive: Add a Hamza/Ya-ye Abtar above ($Khanah-'e-Ahmad$).
  • Suffix "An": Add "g" ($Hamsayegan$).