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Document Details : Title: The 'Seven Valleys' of 'Aththâr Author(s): SKALMOWSKI, W. Journal: Orientalia Lovaniensia Periodica Volume: 23 Date: 1992 Pages: 281-303 DOI: 10.2143/OLP.23.1.519176 Abstract : The purpose of this paper is to present a new interpretation of the sufi doctrine of ahvâl (i.e. spiritual 'states/stages' in man's quest for the Absolute) as described by the Persian poet Farid-od-din 'Attâr (XII/XIII AD) in his allegorical treatise Manteq-ot-tayr ('Language/Deliberation(s) of Birds'). The term 'interpretation' in this context means an attempt at reconstructing the theorethical frame-work on which 'Attârs allegory was based. The brief introductory argument intends to show that his seemingly enigmatic descriptions of the Seven Valleys (clearly representing the Sufi hals) in his poem make rational sense when regarded from the point of view assumed in this article. The nearly literal translation of the pertinent fragments of Manteq accompanied by the reproduction of the Persian text should allow the reader to form his/her own opinion on the validity and internal consistency of the proposed interpretation. Since this paper has a methodological purpose rather than a philological or historical one, the author does not enter here into discussion of the vast secondary literature on the subject nor does he intend to reevaluate the existing translations of teh texts under discussion. |
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