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 Sunnī and Shī'ī 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. 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
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NARRATINGMUḤAMMAD’S NIGHTJOURNEY
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NARRATINGMUḤAMMAD’S NIGHTJOURNEY
Tracing the Development of the Ibn ʿAbbās Ascension Discourse
FREDERICKS. COLBY
STATEUNIVERSITY OFNEWYORKPRESS
Published by State University of New York Press, Albany
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.
For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu
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Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data
Colby, Frederick Stephen, 1969– Narrating Muhammad’s night journey : tracing the development of the Ibn ʿAbbas ascension discourse / Frederick S. Colby. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 9780791475171 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Muhammad, Prophet, d. 632—Isra and Miʿraj. 2. ʿAbd Allah ibn alʿAbbas, d. 688? Israʾ waalMiʿraj. I. Title. BP166.57.C65 2008 297.6'33—dc22 2007037534
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CONTENTS
List of Illustrations / ix
Acknowledgments / xi
Abbreviations / xiii
INTRODUCTION/1
1 MUḤAMMAD’SNIGHTJOURNEY IN THEQURʾĀN/13 The Night Journey Verse /13 Verses from the Chapter of the Overturning /16 The Opening Verses of the Chapter of the Star /17 The Appropriation of Terms and Phrases from the Qurʾān /21 The Heavenly Host Debate /22 The Final Verses (Seals) of the Chapter of the Cow /23 Passing References to the Ascension in the Qurʾān /24
2 ORALITY AND THEPRIMITIVEVERSION OF THEIBNʿABBĀS ASCENSIONNARRATIVE/29 Approaching Ibn ʿAbbās and the Primitive Version /30 Comparatively Analyzing the Primitive Version /35 Authenticating and Dating the Circulation of the Primitive Version /42 Echoes of Muqātil b. Sulaymān’s Commentary in the Primitive Version /46 Tracing the Beginnings of the Primitive Version /48
3 EARLYHISTORICALDESCRIPTIONS OFMUḤAMMAD’SJOURNEY/51 From Qurʾān and Oral Reports to Early Narrative History: Ibn Isḥāq /51 Ibn Isḥāq’s Account of the Prophet’s Night Journey as Narrated by Ibn Hishām /53
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CONTENTS
Ibn Isḥāq’s Account of the Heavenly Journey as Narrated by Ibn Hishām /55 The Early Ascension Narrative as Presented in Ibn Saʿd’sHistory/57 The Night Journey as Narrated by Ibn Saʿd /59
4 PROTOSHĪʿĪNARRATIVES OFHEAVENLYASCENT/65 The Ascension Experiences of ProtoShīʿī “Extremists” /65 Ascensionrelated Sayings in Ṣaffār Qummī’s Collection /67 The Qurʾān Commentary of Furāt Kūfī /72
5 CANONICALSUNNĪḤADĪTHREPORTS ONMUḤAMMAD’SJOURNEY/79 Night Journey and AscensionḤadīthReports in Bukhārī and Muslim /81 ḤadīthReports from the Collection of Nasāʾī /85 ḤadīthReports from the Collection of Tirmidhī /87
6 THEUSE ANDAPPROPRIATION OF THEIBNʿABBĀSDISCOURSE INCOMMENTARIES/93 Night Journey and Ascension Accounts in Ṭabarī’sTafsīr/93 The Abū Hurayra Ascension Narrative from Ṭabarī’sTafsīr/96 The Abū Saʿīd Khudrī Ascension Narrative from Ṭabarī’sTafsīr/101 The Appropriation of the Primitive Version in Other Early Commentaries /104 The Use of the Primitive Version in ʿAlī Qummī’sTafsīr/105 The Use of the Primitive Version in Thaʿlabī’sTafsīr/108
7 CONTESTING THEPRIMITIVEVERSION INNISHAPUR/113 Ibn Ḥibbān’s Rejection of the Primitive Version /114 Sulamī and His Compilation of Sufi Sayings on Muḥammad’s Ascension /115 Qushayrī and HisKitāb almiʿrāj/116 The Extended Cosmological AscensionḤadīth/118 Bayhaqī’s Rejection of the Extended Ascension Narratives /123
8 BAKRĪ’STOTAL ANDCOMPLETEIBNʿABBĀSDISCOURSE/127 The Events Prior to the Night Journey in Texts That Invoke Bakrī /129 Muḥammad’s Night Journey to Jerusalem in Texts That Invoke Bakrī /133 Bakrī Versions of Muḥammad’s Journey through the Heavens /136 Muḥammad’s Journey beyond the Seven Heavens in Bakrī Texts /141 Dating the Ascension Narratives Ascribed to Abū alḤasan Bakrī /145
CONTENTS
9 THECIRCULATION ANDDIFFUSION OFBAKRĪ’SVERSIONS/149 The Base Narrative behind Ibn Sīnā’s Allegorical Treatise /150 Evidence from Sixth / Twelfthcentury North Africa /154 Liber Scaleand the Diffusion of the Bakrī Versions in the Seventh / Thirteenth Century /156 An Anonymous Eastern PersianMiʿrājnāma/158
CONCLUSION/165
Appendix A: Translation of the Primitive Version / 175
Appendix B: Bakrī’s “Total and Complete” Ascension / 195
Glossary: Key Themes and Tropes in the Ibn ʿAbbās Ascension Narratives / 235
Notes / 241
Works Cited / 295
Index / 305
Index of Qurʾānic Verses / 313
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ILLUSTRATIONS
FIGURES
1 The Four Major Angels at the Beginning of the Primitive Version / 33 2 The Three Primary Topics of Conversation in the Intimate Colloquy Scenes / 34
TABLES
1 The Seven Heavens in Texts Related to the Ibn ʿAbbās Ascension Narrative / 138 2 Comparison and Contrast between the Primitive and the Bakrī Versions / 148 3 Comparison and Contrast between the Bakrī Versions andLiber Scale/ 157 4 Comparison and Contrast between the Bakrī Versions and Ayasofya 3441 / 161 5 Temporal and Geographical Chart of Authors, Transmitters, Historical Events / 168