Abstract
The World Emerging from a Pronoun: A Look at the Transmission of theConcept of Nur-i Mu?ammedi into Literature
Nur-i Mu?ammedi is one of the important concepts that pulse through Sufi literature. As in the commentary tradition, the entry of this concept into the world of the thought has occurred via studies in the fields of Hadith and Tafsir. Indeed, expressions about the derivation, origin, and morphology of words allow it to move from a simple composition to a conceptual framework. In the historical sequence consisting of figures like Ka’b al-A?bar, Mu?atil b. Sulayman, Sehl et-Tüsteri, ?allac-i Man?ur, and ?aberi, it has been noticed that the relevant verse, with the phrase“meselü nurihi” and especially the use of the pronoun hu (huve) allows for different interpretations. This pronoun’sreferent is sometimes seen as God Himself, sometimes as the believers and the Quran, and sometimes as the light ofthe Prophet Muhammad. When it comes to Ibn al-Arabi, the concept’s association with the pronoun no longer servesas a center. In other words, the “nur-i Mu?ammedi” and “?a?i?at-i Mu?ammediyye” have turned into a vastcomposition with dozens of names. At this point in history, the “nur-i Mu?ammedi” presents itself with dozens ofnew aspects as the key concept of creation and existence: “Cevher-i beyza” “ebu’l-?alem”, “?a?l-i evvel”, “ru?-ia??am”, “?a?i?at-i mechul”, “el-makhlu? bihi”, “sirac-i ?a?i?at”, “mübda?-i evvel” and others. Since the intellectualbackbone of Sunni Sufism adheres to the “elsine-i selase”(the three languages) the emergence of the mentionedconcepts has followed an Arabic, then formed Persian, and finally a transparent Turkish path. For example, after theinitial explanation of “nur-i Mu?ammedi” by Mukâtil b. Süleyman, it was versified by Hallâc. Ibn al-Arabî delvesdeeply into the concept with advanced Arabic. Beyond this boundary, ‘A??ar and Rumi impart meaning and make the thought that was previously versified in Arabic more brilliant by emphasizing lyrical language. The concept is now processed in both Arabic and Persian.
Keywords
Sufi Literature, Dervish Lodge Literature, Nur-i Mu?ammedi, ?a?i?at-i Mu?ammediyye, ?allac-i Man?ur