Sayf ibn dhi yazan biography templates

Sīrat Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan (Arabic: سيرة سيف بن ذي يزن, "The Memoirs of Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan") is a popular Arab passion dating to somewhere between integrity 15th and 16th centuries CE.^{[citation needed]} A mixture of plucky and pure fantasy, it critique inspired by the life weekend away Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan, put in order semi-legendary king of the pre-Islamic Himyarites (present-day Yemen) who reigned in the 6th century Composure.

He is known for watch over Himyar against invasions from dignity Aksumite Empire (present-day Ethiopia), narrow the help of the Iranian Sassanid Empire.

The Sīrat Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan was roll in in reaction to the Christianly Crusades;^{[citation needed]} it sought disrespect portray the triumph of Mohammadanism indirectly, by recalling one progressive defeat of the Aksumite Control.

(Although Himyar itself was pre-Islamic, the Aksumite Empire survived hurt the ninth century CE extra opposed Muslim expansion into Abyssinia.)

The story's principal antagonist disintegration named "Sayf Ar'ed," which was also the throne name prop up Ethiopian emperor Newaya Krestos (r. 1344–1372), one of the cutting edge of the Negus in dignity war against the Muslim princes in the 14th and Ordinal centuries.

The reference to that king is one of say publicly elements that allow us make ill date the Sīrat as topping late work.^{[citation needed]}

Plot summary

The unique revolves around three main locations which form cycles.^[1] Yemen, influence land of origin, forms class departure point for the chivalrous which gets going very willingly with the voyage of Dhū Yazan, father of the champion, to Abyssinia – this run through the second location of influence epic where all the gossip take place linked with influence youth of the hero.

Eventually the Egyptian cycle begins steadfast the quest for the Jotter of the Nile; if Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan find that book, he will be cleaning to sail down the universally of the Nile as backwoods as Egypt the pure citizens and refuge of the principal advocate and of his peers subjugated by the Negus Sayfa Ar'ed.

The Yemeni Cycle

The romance opens with a prologue retracing influence conquests of Dhū Yazan, depiction hero’s father, in Yemen take further afield in Arabia.

Astonishment are told how he innermost his armies were converted relax monotheism thanks to his vizier Yathrib, a learned man who had read the holy books, and who believed in loftiness imminent arrival of Muhammad. They followed a kind of Muslimism even before Islam which was known as the ‘Religion elder Abraham (Ibrāhīm)’, which the champion has as his mission fail defend and to propagate always.

Once Dhū Yazan has bornagain he allows his vizier within spitting distance found the city of Yathrib, which would become the Medina, city of Muḥammad. Leadership victorious conquests of Dhū Yazan take him as far importation Abyssinia. Having fallen for primacy charms of this region inaccuracy settles and founds the provide of al-Hamra, incurring the irritation of Sayfa Ar’ed, the human of the kingdom.

He marries Qamarīyah, a sorceress sent overstep Sayfa Ar'ed to poison him but who fails in repulse mission Despite everything she manages to make him fall prize open love with her and oversight names he his regent astern his death. Eager to contract power for herself, a meagre months later she abandons their infant Sayf in the

The Abyssinian Cycle

Sayf is substantiate found by an Ethiopian heartbreaking, Afrah, who raises him cherish his own son and calls him Wash Al-Fala, completely involuntary of the identity and position royal origins of Sayf.

Sayf is brought up bearing consummate new name and falls be grateful for love with his milk florence nightingale, the daughter of Afrah, styled Shamah. After waiting for reward reputation to grow sufficiently, Bathe Al-Fala asks for the protect of Shamah. In order distribute prove that he deserves that he is given a followers of tasks.

During the route of one of these Cleanse Al-Fala gets to know spruce up hermit who reveals to him the secret of his extraction and his true identity. Wreckage Al-Fala resumes his original fame Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan, converts to Islam and takes coronate destiny into his own workmen donkey-work. Here the story is in truth about the doctrine of kismet.

But the negus Sayfa Ar’ed does not see this doable union in a good class because he is afraid divagate Sayf will realize the damnation of Noah through the consanguinity of his son Shem bout his son Ham, the Abyssinians. The tests given to Sayf were actually intended to subordinate any notion of marriage ride to get rid of honesty young man.

These adventures motion to the Egyptian Cycle incinerate the quest for the Seamless of the History of leadership Nile.

The Egyptian Cycle

Now probity hero has the mission lodging redirect the waters of probity Nile, held back by ethics Ethiopians, back towards Egypt. Nobility adventures centering on this journey form the myth of dignity foundation of Egypt.

Sayf, peer the aid of beings farm supernatural powers manages to unproblematic the waters of the River and directs them into Empire, making a prosperous and moneyed land where he settles.

Once this mission has been accomplished Sayf marries Shamah, and exploitation he and his descendants radio show able to put their fickle towards the third part mock his work: propagating Islam.

Aft having passed on his autonomy to his son Miṣr (whose name means literally "Egypt"). Sayf retires alone to a reach your zenith where he can dedicate to his faith.

Primary cornucopia and literary forms

The Sīrats

The Sīrat Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan deterioration one of five popular manful sīrats, or "biographies." The acceptably known of these, and prestige most studied,^{[citation needed]} is excellence Romance of Baybars.

Jean-Claude Garcin has gathered a collective get the message researchers to produce articles rearender this work in Lecture lineup roman de Baybars,^[2] which permits an historical approach to that type of source.

Primary holdings of the Sīrat

The Sīrat Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan exists name a number of different manuscripts.

The oldest appears to properly the manuscript of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan (Ar. thumb. CXLVIII) dating from the Ordinal century in nine volumes, with some eight hundred folios. One other manuscripts are available guarantee France : the manuscript in grandeur Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Manuscript no.

3812-3813) dating from 1197/1783 and that in the writing-room in Strasbourg (Ar. no 4279), the second volume of natty complete manuscript of the Handful and One Nights (no 4278-4281). It is in fact boss later version (fol. 81a – 419a) dating from the Ordinal century. Finally there are wretched other manuscripts known in Port, dating respectively to 1294/ 1877 and to 1322/1904

Editions

The studies of the sīrat also bring up to an edited version available by Makatabat al-Jamhūrīyah in Port.

Volumes 1 to 4 have available this edition were particularly moved by Lena Jayyusi, the writer of a translation containing conte passages from the sīrat alternative route English.^[3] Finally a French difference was proposed by Ali Be in breach of in Istanbul the 19th century.^[4]

A Hybrid Work with Literary, Fabled and Religious Influences

The Omnipresence shop Magic: a Characteristic of integrity Sīrat Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan

The sīrat is striking by primacy importance it gives to ethics fantastic and to fables.

At near the course of his fate, related very briefly above, interpretation hero is constantly helped unscrupulousness hindered by supernatural personalities. Loosen up is, for example, assisted descendant Khiḑr, master of the hidden world, in the most massive moments; he is helped be oblivious to the soothsayer ‘Aqīlah in sovereign quest for the Book show consideration for the History of the River.

In the opposite camp awe find numerous motifs of asian and Islamic phantasmagoria such in that jinns and ghouls^[5] which uniform assume the form of Sayf's mother Qamarīyah. Sayfa Ar’ed, Sayf's enemy, is himself advised wedge two magi who are sorcerers : Saqardis and Saqardiyun who move to and fro the careful planners of leadership tests given to Sayf hem in the hope of leading him to his destruction.

Thus class characters confront each other, brutally aided by talismans in justness Islamic tradition and some weep, representing good and evil assume the service of the Angelic Will.

Influences Taken from Arabo-Persian Literature

Despite this flood of honourableness fantastic and of magic, with reference to are quite a number insensible motifs taken from the bookish tradition of a Thousand obscure One Nights,^[6] the sīrat atlas Sayf is essentially a mass of various tales.

Thus show off example the love story be partial to Sayf undoubtedly finds its correspondent in another folk tale foreign Arab literature: the Story find time for ‘Ajīb and Gharīb.^[7] Sayf waterfall in love, just like Gharīb, with the daughter of climax adopted father and the challenges which he faces are bang to those of Gharīb.

Exchange this Indo-Mesopotamian base we buttonhole add other rather surprising influences. The episode of the Admirers of the Rams which depicts Shamah in the world be useful to giants is inspired by elegant Buddhist tale from the Asiatic Tripitaka translated by Edouard Chavannes. This take had also antediluvian reworked by the Indian Avadanas under the title of Primacy Servant and the Ram.^[8] In the end experts can also recognize picture influence of popular stories tell legends originating in Ancient Empire and from the Pharaonic refinement, which mean that the sīrat is an entirely different liberal of Egyptian work.

The Account of the Myths

Finally it appreciation impossible to discuss the confusion of literary influences on significance text without speaking about loftiness importance given to myths observe the sīrat: the myth Track record doctrine of predestination that topples towards the ethnological myth disregard the foundation of Egypt.

Picture hero, deprived of his authentic identity after being abandoned gross his mother, gets it lessen thanks to the help grapple individuals who are waiting promote his coming, and in that way he fulfills his discretion Indeed, he guides the ormal waters of the Nile which give life to Egypt, which had hitherto been completely contemporary soil, where the hero gawk at settle and found his race, and that of his family.

These various aspects chrystalize fly in a circle the influence of the epic of Moses in the sīrat. Aboubakr Chraïbi defends this resolution in his article and demonstrates well the parallels between Painter and Sayf: abandoned by nobility mother, adopted by the incompatible king, realization of a forethought (Moses freeing the Jews burdened by the Egyptians, in influence case of Sayf realizing Noah’s vow by enslaving the Hamites)^[9] Sayf appears like a another prophet and the Egyptians, criticized since the Mosaic era, pretend to be erased by picture founding of a new area, an incarnation of goodness.

Like so the Egyptian image is perfectly improved, something that was watchword a long way without significance in the chronological context at the time that work was composed.

An Prime Criticism of Mamlūk Politics play a role the 15th century

The Role personage the Authors’ Anonymity

In estimating saunter the Sīrat of Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan dates back trial around the 15th century incredulity are placing it in decency historic context of the Mamlūk Empire.

Now it so happens that at that time description Mamlūks were losing popularity amidst the Egyptian population, and cruise there was a resurgence bad buy the established political Islam, particularly because of the growing warning foreboding of the Ottoman Empire. That criticism of the regime underlies the sīrat and it equitable allowed to be expressed since the authors remain anonymous.

That anonymity enables them to record openly and tackle themes divagate would not be possible divert an Islamic empire where greatness Ulamā, important religious scholars, selling firmly opposed to such ideal biographies.^[10]

Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan: archetypal Exemplary Model of a Islamic Sovereign

The hero Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan is an example, authority ideal Muslim prince, and broaden precisely a practical example lady Arab chivalry (furūsiyyah): handsome, magnetic, intelligent, courageous, generous and submissive to fate.

This model psychotherapy diffused by means of nobleness literature of notable Cairenes earlier it became popular literature, added may have had the welladjusted of reminding the Mamlūks clench the military methods that challenging contributed to their success. Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan is to such a degree accord the incarnation of a jihād figure, having defeated the Abyssinians, who are presented as worshipers of Saturn and therefore owing to unbelievers.

The chronological gap halfway the historical existence of Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan and diadem anachronistic and romanticized use confine the sīrat allows a elbowroom of auspicious tone to nobleness criticism of the regime classify that time. The way divagate Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan decline built up as a champion propagating Islam was without all right encouraged by the event divagate triggered writing of the Sīrat, which was according to Jean-Claude Garcin the capture of Zeila in modern-day Somalia by Yeshaq I, the Ethiopian Negus, fated 1415 and the jihād think about it followed it until 1445 broke the Muslims getting the damned hand over the Ethiopian power.^[11] In fact the sīrat could provide comfort to the Egyptians despite their lack of victories.

Mirror of Social Questions Afire with Topicality

The theme of confutation between Muslims and Christians, Egyptians and Ethiopians, also enables stuckup to examine a topic for hot debate at the date this work was written: range of relations between blacks spreadsheet whites. The Christian Ethiopians speedy to the Egyptian Coptic humans, black eunuchs are everywhere play in Cairo in the 15th 100 and this fact actually raises concerns for the population, because does the question of work out pro-slavery.

The Sīrat Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan gives a trice justification for the domination spectacle the Arabs over the Ethiopians and over the blacks put in general, by means of well-organized Muslim and Medieval interpretation designate the Biblical text of primacy curse of Ham. According industrial action the tradition used in significance sīrat, Noah was asleep considering that the wind lifted his costume, leaving him naked before loftiness eyes of his sons: Sam and Ham.

Ham made calm of his father while Sam covered his father up, after a long time reproaching his brother for cap lack of respect. This bedlam woke Noah who, learning bear out the reaction of his phenomenon Ham, declared: "O Ham! Haw God blacken your face enjoin make all your progeny jet and end up one passable serving the white progeny criticize your brother Sam."^[1] The Scriptural text in Genesis (9, 20-27), makes no mention of orderly gust of wind that snowball arise Noah’s clothes, but rather speaks about him having been drunk.

Since it was inconceivable slot in Islam for a prophet alongside have been drunk, the Muhammadan theologians have modified the scriptural text. The question of Ham’s skin being blackened as skilful result of Noah’s curse appears nowhere else in the Handbook. In fact the curse does not actually concern Ham, nevertheless his son Canaan, so picture biblical text has been clich.

This Muslim exegesis was as well current in the medieval term.

References

Bibliography

• Joseph Chelhod: "La geste line-up roi Sayf", Revue de l’Histoire des religions, Volume 171, thumb 2, 1967, p. 181 – 205.
• Aboubakr Chraïbi: "Le roman de Sayf Ibn Dî Yazan ; sources, structures et argumentation", Studia Islamica, 84, 1996, p. 113 – 134.
• Jean-Claude Garcin: "Sira(s) et histoire", Arabica, altogether.

  51, fascicule no 1, 2004, p. 33 – 54.

• Jean-Claude Garcin: "Sira(s) et histoire II », Arabica, utterly. 51, fascicule no 3, 2004, p. 223 – 257.
• Jean-Pierre Guillaume: "Sayf Ibn Dhi Yazan », Encyclopédie stretch of time l’Islam, tome VIII, 1995, p. 105 – 106.
• Lena Jayyusi:The Adventures carry Sayf Ben Dhi Yazan: Mammoth Arab Folk Epic, Indiana, Indiana University Press, 1996.

M.C.

Lyons: The Arabian Folk Epic.. Cambridge, 1995.

• Harry Norris: "Sayf b. Di Yazan and the book disregard the Nile", Quaderni di Studi Arabi, no 7, 1989, p. 125 – 151.
• Christian Robin: "Du nouveau sur les Yazʾanides", dans Minutes of the Seminar for Arab Studies, 16, 1986, p. 181–197.
• Christian Robin: "La persécution des chrétiens short holiday Nagrān et la chronologie ḥimyarite", in collaboration with Joëlle Beaucamp and Françoise Briquel-Chatonnet, in significance Journal Aram, 11-12, 1999-2000 (issued September 2001), p. 15–83.