Description
Book SynopsisSami Helewa's book opens anew the Qi?a? al-anbiya? (Tales of the Prophets) in terms of the leadership of ancient prophets in a Muslim context of friendship and enmity in the narrative detail of the prophets Joseph, David, and Solomon. Although the Qi?a? genre is not court-based, advice literature, these tales could function as advisory literature through the legendary-prophetic figures. It is hardly surprising that the prophets of ancient times have been moral prototypes for the Judo-Islamic search for religio-political leaders. However, the themes of leadership, friendship, and enmity are embedded in these tales in the writing of great Medieval-Muslims like al-?abari of Baghdad and al-Tha?labi of Nishapur, who were great scholars (?ulama?) and men of literature (?udaba?). Like the religious side of these tales, Helewa maintains that the adab side of the Qi?a? has equal importance of meaning to the struggle of ancient prophets in their friendships and hostilities. These tales, as astut
Trade ReviewS. Helewa's book is a brilliant and innovative exposition of the role and significance of the tales of the ancient prophets in medieval Islam. The way that Helewa analyses the tales of the prophets as myths and hagiographical legends is impressive, and equally impressive is the way that the author analyzes the relationship between such myths or legends and other genres of Arabic literature, including Muslim biographies. Helewa is tremendously successful in interrogating the categories that scholars have used to understand the tales of the prophets and in challenging assumptions that scholars have brought to the study of this genre. -- Tariq Jaffer, Amherst College
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One: The Qiṣaṣ al-anbiyāʾ: Between Religious and Cultivated Literature Chapter Two: Historical Context Chapter Three: Just Leadership Chapter Four: Friendship Chapter Five: Enmity Chapter Six: Final Thoughts
