The journey of Ibn Fattuma to al-Farabis ignorant (Jahiliyya) cities
Other Title(s)
رحلة ابن فطومة إلى مدن الفارابي الجاهلية
Author
Source
al-Majma : Studies in Arabic Language and Literature
Issue
Vol. 2016, Issue 11 (31 Dec. 2016), pp.1-31, 31 p.
Publisher
al-Qasemi Academy al-Qasemi Arabic Language Academy
Publication Date
2016-12-31
Country of Publication
Palestine (West Bank)
No. of Pages
31
Main Subjects
Topics
- Jahiliya period
- Travel literature
- Authors
- Egyptians
- Najib Mahfuz, 1911-2006
- al-Farabi Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Tarkhan, 874-950
Abstract EN
This paper explores the resemblance between the socio-political environment of the cities that Ibn Faṭṭūma visits in his journey, to al-Farābī’s analysis of the ignorant cities (al-mudun al-jāhiliyya).
The claim is that both The Journey of Ibn Faṭṭūma by Najīb Maḥfūẓ, and al-Farābī’s extended talk of the ignorant cities alludes to the same crisis; The novelist and the philosopher dream of an utopian virtuous city but aware that in reality there are various forms of imperfect regimes, while the perfect regime is virtually impossible or difficult to reach.
Both, the philosopher and the novelist, see that true knowledge (ḥikma) is the basis of the virtuous city, and through it the application of a right and virtuous ‘religion’ may be practiced.
The ideal or virtuous city provides happiness, justice, and self-realization for all the citizens.
This paper shows that al-Farābī’s philosophical text becomes vivid and attractive when considered as a background to the story of Ibn Faṭṭūma’s passionate dream of arriving to the perfect or ideal city.
The spiritual crisis of both Ibn Faṭṭūma and al-Farābī is the outcome of a defect in the socio-political regime, which is not strange to our time.
This justifies the study of both the literary and philosophical works from a contemporaneous perspective.
Key Words: Najīb Maḥfūẓ, al-Farābī, Political Regime, Riḥlat Ibn Faṭṭūma, al-madīna al-fāḍila, al-mudun al-jāhiliyya, sharīʽa, ijtihād.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Shajrawi, Clara Sroujii. 2016. The journey of Ibn Fattuma to al-Farabis ignorant (Jahiliyya) cities. al-Majma : Studies in Arabic Language and Literature،Vol. 2016, no. 11, pp.1-31.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-773449
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Shajrawi, Clara Sroujii. The journey of Ibn Fattuma to al-Farabis ignorant (Jahiliyya) cities. al-Majma : Studies in Arabic Language and Literature No. 11 (2016), pp.1-31.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-773449
American Medical Association (AMA)
Shajrawi, Clara Sroujii. The journey of Ibn Fattuma to al-Farabis ignorant (Jahiliyya) cities. al-Majma : Studies in Arabic Language and Literature. 2016. Vol. 2016, no. 11, pp.1-31.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-773449
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references : p. 27-30
Record ID
BIM-773449