The Umm al-kitāb (Arabic: أمّ الکتاب, lit. 'Mother of the Book') is a syncretic Shi'i work originating in the ghulāt milieus of 8th-century Kufa (Iraq). It was later transplanted to Syria by the 10th-century Nusayris, whose final redaction of the work was preserved in a Persian translation produced by the Nizari Isma'ilis of Central Asia.[1] The work only survives in Persian.[2] It contains no notable elements of Isma'ili doctrine,[3] but given the fact that Isma'ili authors starting from the 10th century were influenced by early ghulāt ideas such as those found in the Umm al-kitāb,[4] and especially given the influence of these ideas on later Tayyibi Isma'ilism,[5] some Isma'ilis do regard the work as one of the most important works in their tradition.[1]
The work presents itself as a revelation of secret knowledge by the Shi'i Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (677–732) to his disciple Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ju'fi (died c. 745–750).[6] Its doctrinal contents correspond to a large degree to what 9th/10th-century heresiographers ascribed to various ghulāt sects,[6] with a particular resemblance to the ideas of the Mukhammisa.[1] It contains a lengthy exposition of the typical ghulāt myth of the pre-existent shadows (Arabic: aẓilla) who created the world by their fall from grace, as is also found in the Kitāb al-Haft wa-l-aẓilla attributed to al-Mufaddal ibn Umar al-Ju'fi (died before 799).[6]
The work must have been multicultural in language, since it includes Arabic, Persian and Aramaic terms. Orthodox and heterodox Jewish, Zoroastrian, Manichaean and Mandaean motifs appear. The tone and style of the work hint that the authors of the work were probably of middle class origin, with some distance to other Muslim groups, like the politically active Shiites and those advocating asceticism.[7]
The treatise offers an esoteric hermeneutics concerning cosmology, the nature of man, and worship within a Qur'anic context.[8]
The book may be an attempt to reconcile dualistic cosmologies, as found among the pre-Islamic Persians, with Islamic monotheism. Several principles of evil, such as the Persian figure Ahriman, are said to be merely a later incarnation of the fallen angel Azazil, who in turn owes his existence to God.[9]
Anthony, Sean W. (2011). "The Legend of ʿAbdallāh ibn Sabaʾ and the Date of Umm al-Kitāb". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 21 (1): 1–30. JSTOR 23011519.
Beinhauer-Köhler, Bärbel (2004). "Die Engelsturzmotive des Umm al-Kitāb. Untersuchungen zur Trägerschaft eines synkretistischen Werkes der häretischen Schia". In Auffarth, Christoph; Stuckenbruck, Loren (eds.). The Fall of the Angels. Themes in Biblical Narrative. Vol. 6. Leiden: Brill. pp. 161–175. doi:10.1163/9789047404330_010. ISBN978-90-04-12668-8.
De Smet, Daniel (2020). "The Intellectual Interactions of Yemeni Ṭayyibism with the Early Shiʿi Tradition". In Mir-Kasimov, Orkhan (ed.). Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World: The Ismaili Thread. London: I.B. Tauris. pp. 299–321. ISBN978-1-83860-485-1.
Filippani-Ronconi, Pio (1964). "Note sulla soteriologia e sul simbolismo cosmico dell'Ummu'l-kitāb". AION. 14 (1): 111–134.
Friedman, Yaron (2010). The Nuṣayrī-ʿAlawīs: An Introduction to the Religion, History and Identity of the Leading Minority in Syria. Islamic History and Civilization. Vol. 77. Leiden: Brill. ISBN978-90-04-17892-2.
Hämeen-Anttila, Jaakko (2001). "Ascent and Descent in Islamic Myth". In Whiting, Robert M. (ed.). Mythology and Mythologies: Methodological Approaches to Intercultural Influences. Proceedings of the Second Annual Symposium of the Assyrian and Babylonian Intellectual Heritage Project Held in Paris, France, October 4-7, 1999. Helsinki: Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project. pp. 47–67. ISBN9789514590498. OCLC 912739664. (situates the Umm al-kitāb in its Mesopotamian context)
Ivanow, Wladimir (1932). "Notes sur l'Ummu'l-kitab des Ismaëliens de l'Asie Centrale". Revue des Études Islamiques. 6: 419–481.
Nasr, S. H.; Aminrazavi, Mehdi (2008). Anthology of Philosophy in Persia: Ismaili Thought in the Classical Age. I.B.Tauris. ISBN978-0-857-71042-0.
Radtke, Bernd (1990). "Iranian and Gnostic Elements in Early Taṣawwuf. Observations concerning the Umm al-Kitāb". In Gnoli, Gherardo; Panaino, Antonio (eds.). Proceedings of the first European Conference of Iranian Studies held in Turin, September 7th-11th, 1987 by the Societas Iranologica Europaea. Volume 2: Middle and New Iranian Studies. Rome: Istituto italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente. pp. 519–529. ISBN9788863230765. OCLC 956121455.
Primary sourcesEdit
Filippani-Ronconi, Pio (1966). Ummu'l-kitab: Introduzione, traduzione e note di Pio Filippani-Ronconi. Napoli: Istituto Universitario Orientale di Napoli. ISBN978-88-97278-43-6. OCLC 635942972. (Italian translation)
Halm, Heinz (1981). "Das "Buch der Schatten". Die Mufaḍḍal-Tradition der Ġulāt und die Ursprünge des Nuṣairiertums. II. Die Stoffe". Der Islam. 58 (1): 15–86. doi:10.1515/islm.1981.58.1.15. (German translations of parts of the text on pp. 36 ff.)
Halm, Heinz (1982). Die islamische Gnosis: Die Schia und die ʿAlawiten. Zürich and München: Artemis Verlag. ISBN978-3-7608-4530-2. (German translations of parts of the text on pp. 113 ff.)
Ivanow, Wladimir (1936). "Ummu᾽l-kitāb". Der Islam. 23 (1–2): 1–132. doi:10.1515/islm.1936.23.1-2.1. (edition of the Persian text)
Tijdens, E. F. (1977). "Der mythologisch-gnostische Hintergrund des Umm al-kitâb". Acta Iranica. VII: 241–526. OCLC 470066089. (partial German translation)
October 21, 2023
kitab, book, other, uses, kitab, disambiguation, kitāb, arabic, أم, الکتاب, mother, book, syncretic, work, originating, ghulāt, milieus, century, kufa, iraq, later, transplanted, syria, 10th, century, nusayris, whose, final, redaction, work, preserved, persian. For other uses see Umm al Kitab disambiguation The Umm al kitab Arabic أم الکتاب lit Mother of the Book is a syncretic Shi i work originating in the ghulat milieus of 8th century Kufa Iraq It was later transplanted to Syria by the 10th century Nusayris whose final redaction of the work was preserved in a Persian translation produced by the Nizari Isma ilis of Central Asia 1 The work only survives in Persian 2 It contains no notable elements of Isma ili doctrine 3 but given the fact that Isma ili authors starting from the 10th century were influenced by early ghulat ideas such as those found in the Umm al kitab 4 and especially given the influence of these ideas on later Tayyibi Isma ilism 5 some Isma ilis do regard the work as one of the most important works in their tradition 1 The work presents itself as a revelation of secret knowledge by the Shi i Imam Muhammad al Baqir 677 732 to his disciple Jabir ibn Yazid al Ju fi died c 745 750 6 Its doctrinal contents correspond to a large degree to what 9th 10th century heresiographers ascribed to various ghulat sects 6 with a particular resemblance to the ideas of the Mukhammisa 1 It contains a lengthy exposition of the typical ghulat myth of the pre existent shadows Arabic aẓilla who created the world by their fall from grace as is also found in the Kitab al Haft wa l aẓilla attributed to al Mufaddal ibn Umar al Ju fi died before 799 6 The work must have been multicultural in language since it includes Arabic Persian and Aramaic terms Orthodox and heterodox Jewish Zoroastrian Manichaean and Mandaean motifs appear The tone and style of the work hint that the authors of the work were probably of middle class origin with some distance to other Muslim groups like the politically active Shiites and those advocating asceticism 7 The treatise offers an esoteric hermeneutics concerning cosmology the nature of man and worship within a Qur anic context 8 The book may be an attempt to reconcile dualistic cosmologies as found among the pre Islamic Persians with Islamic monotheism Several principles of evil such as the Persian figure Ahriman are said to be merely a later incarnation of the fallen angel Azazil who in turn owes his existence to God 9 Contents 1 See also 2 References 3 Bibliography 3 1 Tertiary sources 3 2 Secondary sources 3 3 Primary sourcesSee also EditGnosticism Manichaeism Secret Book of JohnReferences Edit a b c Daftary 2015 Persian text edited by Ivanow 1936 Full Italian translation by Filippani Ronconi 1966 Partial German translation by Tijdens 1977 German translation of some parts of the text in Halm 1981 pp 36 ff and Halm 1982 pp 113 ff Daftary 2015 De Smet 2020 p 303 Early Isma ili authors who adapted ghulat ideas include Ja far ibn Mansur al Yaman died c 957 see De Smet 2020 pp 303 308 and Abu Ya qub al Sijistani died after 971 see De Smet 2020 pp 304 307 308 De Smet 2020 pp 320 321 et passim a b c Halm 2001 2012 Beinhauer Kohler 2004 Nasr amp Aminrazavi 2008 p 16 Friedman 2010 p 97 Bibliography EditTertiary sources Edit Daftary Farhad 2015 Omm al ketab In Yarshater Ehsan ed Encyclopaedia Iranica Halm Heinz 2001 2012 Ḡolat In Yarshater Ehsan ed Encyclopaedia Iranica Secondary sources Edit Anthony Sean W 2011 The Legend of ʿAbdallah ibn Sabaʾ and the Date of Umm al Kitab Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 21 1 1 30 JSTOR 23011519 Beinhauer Kohler Barbel 2004 Die Engelsturzmotive des Umm al Kitab Untersuchungen zur Tragerschaft eines synkretistischen Werkes der haretischen Schia In Auffarth Christoph Stuckenbruck Loren eds The Fall of the Angels Themes in Biblical Narrative Vol 6 Leiden Brill pp 161 175 doi 10 1163 9789047404330 010 ISBN 978 90 04 12668 8 De Smet Daniel 2020 The Intellectual Interactions of Yemeni Ṭayyibism with the Early Shiʿi Tradition In Mir Kasimov Orkhan ed Intellectual Interactions in the Islamic World The Ismaili Thread London I B Tauris pp 299 321 ISBN 978 1 83860 485 1 Filippani Ronconi Pio 1964 Note sulla soteriologia e sul simbolismo cosmico dell Ummu l kitab AION 14 1 111 134 Friedman Yaron 2010 The Nuṣayri ʿAlawis An Introduction to the Religion History and Identity of the Leading Minority in Syria Islamic History and Civilization Vol 77 Leiden Brill ISBN 978 90 04 17892 2 Hameen Anttila Jaakko 2001 Ascent and Descent in Islamic Myth In Whiting Robert M ed Mythology and Mythologies Methodological Approaches to Intercultural Influences Proceedings of the Second Annual Symposium of the Assyrian and Babylonian Intellectual Heritage Project Held in Paris France October 4 7 1999 Helsinki Neo Assyrian Text Corpus Project pp 47 67 ISBN 9789514590498 OCLC 912739664 situates the Umm al kitab in its Mesopotamian context Ivanow Wladimir 1932 Notes sur l Ummu l kitab des Ismaeliens de l Asie Centrale Revue des Etudes Islamiques 6 419 481 Nasr S H Aminrazavi Mehdi 2008 Anthology of Philosophy in Persia Ismaili Thought in the Classical Age I B Tauris ISBN 978 0 857 71042 0 Radtke Bernd 1990 Iranian and Gnostic Elements in Early Taṣawwuf Observations concerning the Umm al Kitab In Gnoli Gherardo Panaino Antonio eds Proceedings of the first European Conference of Iranian Studies held in Turin September 7th 11th 1987 by the Societas Iranologica Europaea Volume 2 Middle and New Iranian Studies Rome Istituto italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente pp 519 529 ISBN 9788863230765 OCLC 956121455 Primary sources Edit Filippani Ronconi Pio 1966 Ummu l kitab Introduzione traduzione e note di Pio Filippani Ronconi Napoli Istituto Universitario Orientale di Napoli ISBN 978 88 97278 43 6 OCLC 635942972 Italian translation Halm Heinz 1981 Das Buch der Schatten Die Mufaḍḍal Tradition der Ġulat und die Ursprunge des Nuṣairiertums II Die Stoffe Der Islam 58 1 15 86 doi 10 1515 islm 1981 58 1 15 German translations of parts of the text on pp 36 ff Halm Heinz 1982 Die islamische Gnosis Die Schia und die ʿAlawiten Zurich and Munchen Artemis Verlag ISBN 978 3 7608 4530 2 German translations of parts of the text on pp 113 ff Ivanow Wladimir 1936 Ummu l kitab Der Islam 23 1 2 1 132 doi 10 1515 islm 1936 23 1 2 1 edition of the Persian text Tijdens E F 1977 Der mythologisch gnostische Hintergrund des Umm al kitab Acta Iranica VII 241 526 OCLC 470066089 partial German translation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Umm al kitab Shi 27i book amp oldid 1152339634, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
