Présentation

This book provides an exhaustive examination of the historical development of a key story in the life of Muhammad, the tale told of his journey to the divine realm and back. It shows how in the early centuries of the Islamic community, both Sunnî and Shî`î Muslims appropriated this fascinating story and interpreted it to suit their own ends. In particular, the book traces the development of a critical and influential strand of this rich ascension literature ascribed to one of Muhammad’s famous companions, the scholar known as Ibn `Abbas. Frederick S. Colby demonstrates that this version of the tale originated in the early period and spread throughout the Islamic world, affecting how people from Spain to Afghanistan came to think about Muhammad and his legacy. Colby also includes translations of richly textured ascension narratives that have never before appeared in English.

Table des matières

Table of Contents

Illustrations Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction

1. Muhammad’s Night Journey in the Qurān

The Night Journey Verse Verses from the Chapter of the Overturning The Opening Verses of the Chapter of the Star The Appropriation of Terms and Phrases from the Qurān The Heavenly Host Debate The Final Verses (Seals) of the Chapter of the Cow Passing References to the Ascension in the Qurān

2. Orality and the Primitive Version of the Ibn ’Abbās Ascension Narrative

Approaching Ibn ’Abbās and the Primitive Version Comparatively Analyzing the Primitive Version Authenticating and Dating the Circulation of the Primitive Version Echoes of Muqātil b. Sulaymān’s Commentary in the Primitive Version Tracing the Beginnings of the Primitive Version

3. Early Historical Descriptions of Muhammad’s Journey

From Qurān and Oral Reports to Early Narrative History : Ibn Ishāq Ibn Ishāq’s Account of the Prophet’s Night Journey as Narrated by Ibn Hishām Ibn Ishāq’s Account of the Heavenly Journey as Narrated by Ibn Hishām The Early Ascension Narrative as Presented in Ibn Sa’d’s History The Night Journey as Narrated by Ibn Sa’d

4. Proto-Sh’ Narratives of Heavenly Ascent The Ascension Experiences of Proto-Sh’ “Extremists” Ascension-related Sayings in Ṣaffār Qumm’s Collection The Qurān Commentary of Furāt Kūf

5. Canonical Sunn adth Reports on Muhammad’s Journey Night Journey and Ascension adth Reports in Bukhār and Muslim adth Reports from the Collection of Nasā adth Reports from the Collection of Tirmidh

6. The Use and Appropriation of the Ibn ’Abbās Discourse in Commentaries

Night Journey and Ascension Accounts in abar’s Tafsr The Abū Hurayra Ascension Narrative from abar’s Tafsr The Abū Sa’d Khudr Ascension Narrative from abar’s Tafsr The Appropriation of the Primitive Version in Other Early Commentaries The Use of the Primitive Version in ’Al Qumm’s Tafsr The Use of the Primitive Version in Tha’lab’s Tafsr

7. Contesting the Primitive Version in Nishapur

Ibn ibbān’s Rejection of the Primitive Version Sulam and His Compilation of Sufi Sayings on Muhammad’s Ascension Qushayr and His Kitāb al-mi’rāj The Extended Cosmological Ascension adth Bayhaq’s Rejection of the Extended Ascension Narratives

8. Bakr’s Complete and Perfect Ibn ’Abbās Discourse

The Events Prior to the Night Journey in Texts That Invoke Bakr Muhammad’s Night Journey to Jerusalem in Texts That Invoke Bakr Bakr Versions of Muhammad’s Journey through the Heavens Muhammad’s Journey beyond the Seven Heavens in Bakr Texts Dating the Ascension Narratives Ascribed to Abū al-asan Bakr

9. The Circulation and Diffusion of Bakr’s Versions

The Base Narrative behind Ibn Snā’s Allegorical Treatise Evidence from Sixth/Twelfth-Century North Africa Liber Scale and the Diffusion of the Bakr Versions in the Seventh/Thirteenth Century An Anonymous Eastern Persian Mi’rājnāma Conclusion

Appendix A : Translation of the Primitive Version Appendix B : Bakr’s “Complete and Perfect” Ascension Glossary : Key Themes and Tropes in the Ibn ’Abbās Ascension Narratives

Notes Works Cited Index

(Source : Sunypress)