What is the primary focus and argument of each text?
“Mantle Poem” by al-Busiri entirely praises the Prophet Muhammad. The prophet is believed to have healed the poet of paralysis (Muhammad ibn Sa’id al- Busiri 179). The poet had been paralyzed for a long period of time. He attempted to seek medical help in various hospitals, but he did not get well.
The poet decided to hopefully turn to the messenger of Allah by the name Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. Upon turning to him, he composed a lengthy Qasida comprising 167 verses. The message in the Qasida was asking for help from Darbar-e-Mustafavi (Razavi 25). One night, Prophet Muhammad appeared to the poet in a dream and wrapped him in a cloak, which is described in the poem as a mantle and then he was cured.
“Eighth Class” of Ibn Sina’s Remarks and Admonitions on the other hand depict Sina’s knowledge of the universe’s eternal aspects. He argues that every eternal aspect of the universe primarily belongs to God (Razavi 25). The primary focus of this text is to show the greatness of God through the creation on earth. Ibn Sina revealed the creation of God through various disciplines like Arabic literature, philosophy, sciences, logic and Islamic law among others.
What do they have in common?
Both texts are mystical. The “Mantle Poem” by al-Busiri portrays Prophet Muhammad to be the supernatural power who has control of everything on earth (Muhammad ibn Sa’id al- Busiri 179).
The poem depicts the prophet to be the deliverer of humans. It urges people to put their trust on this prophet since he has control of human race. The “Eighth Class” of Ibn Sina’s Remarks and Admonitions on the other hand believe in God to be the supernatural power. Sina has attributed all knowledge and everything happening on earth to God (Sells 172).
Both texts are from the Islamic tradition. For example, the “Mantle Poem” remains the most celebrated tribute in the history of Islam. The poem illustrates how Prophet Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam visited the poet in a dream, cured him and gave him a chaadar mubarak (Muhammad ibn Sa’id al- Busiri 179). This is an Islamic cloak, which is referred to as the mantle in the poem. Ibn Sina the author of the Remarks and Admonition’s “Eighth Class” was a great Muslim physician during the medieval period.
Both texts depict happiness. The “Mantle Poem” depicts happiness when the poet is cured of paralysis while the “Eighth Class” illustrates means of achieving happiness (Muhammad ibn Sa’id al- Busiri 179). The difference brought forward by the two texts regarding happiness is the nature of happiness. The “Mantle Poem” depicts happiness as luck, which comes and goes while the “Eighth Class” depicts happiness as something worked for and once achieved it stays (Muhammad ibn Sa’id al- Busiri 179).
According to Ibn Sina, knowledge which brings about happiness is given by God and according to al-Busiri, Prophet Muhammad is the source of happiness (Sells 178). Both of them argue that happiness comes from their supernatural creators.
How do they differ?
The two texts believe in different supernatural powers. The “Mantle Poem” by al-Busiri believes in Prophet Muhammad while “Eighth Class” of Ibn Sina’s Remarks and Admonitions believe in God. The “Mantle Poem” is based on one specific action, which is healing the poet of paralysis by Prophet Muhammad (Muhammad ibn Sa’id al- Busiri 179).
“Eighth Class” has illustrated a number of issues why God is to be glorified, praised and treated with dignity. For instance, all knowledge is depicted to have originated from God. Every living thing on the earth is attributed to God. Hence, the “Mantle Poem” is specific while the “Eighth Class” is general.
In addition, the “Mantle Poem” is a sufi poem while the “Eighth Class” from the Remarks and Admonition is more of philosophical work. The “Mantle Poem” is shallow and written in complex language, which needs a professional like a poet to read and understand it.
On the other hand, the “Eighth Class” from the Remarks and Admonition is a philosophical work written in details and layman’s language, hence, easy to comprehend by most people. According to Ibn Sina, knowledge which brings about happiness is given by God and according to al-Busiri, Prophet Muhammad is the source of happiness.
Ibn Sina wrote this work as part of his scholarly work. He did not write the work to praise or glorify anyone. He wrote it to inform the general public. al-Busiri, on the other hand, wrote the poem to praise, glorify and treat the prophet with dignity for healing him of paralysis (Muhammad ibn Sa’id al- Busiri 179).
The poem is full of love message directed to the prophet (Muhammad ibn Sa’id al- Busiri 179). Hence the “Mantle Poem” was directed to some power while the “Eighth Class” in Remarks and Admonition was meant for the general public.
What can we learn about the nature of happiness from these two texts?
In the “Mantle Poem” happiness is depicted when the poet is healed of paralysis. We see him astounded by happiness upon getting healed of paralysis (Muhammad ibn Sa’id al- Busiri 179). The poem never depicts happiness elsewhere apart from the time he is healed. It can be concluded that according to al-Busiri happiness is seasonal. It comes once in a while.
According to Ibn Sina the author of Remarks and Admonitions, “Eighth Class”, human happiness can only be achieved through knowledge (Razavi 26). Sina argues that two types of knowledge must be available for happiness to be achieved. This includes theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge.
Practical knowledge must be practiced and applied for the sake of perfecting an individual, the family, and the society in general. Sina goes further to argue that practical knowledge paves way for theoretical knowledge (Razavi 27). This is done by completing an individual’s metaphysical perfection.
The eternal elements of the earth like the knowledge of essences, quiddities of things, realities and natures complete the metaphysical perfection of an individual (Razavi). For instance, knowledge of essences perfects one by making her mirror the earth’s eternal aspect leading to achievement of eternity for herself. This eternity can be revealed through one’s happiness.
When the nature of happiness in the two texts is compared, the “Mantle Poem” depicts happiness as a luck that comes and disappears while in Remarks and Admonitions, “Eighth Class” depicts happiness as something invested by an individual, and if it is well invested, it can last forever (Sells 178). According to Ibn Sina, knowledge that brings about happiness is given by God. On the other hand al-Busiri suggests that Prophet Muhammad is the source of all happiness.
Works Cited
Muhammad ibn Sa’id al- Busiri. The Mantle Adorned: Imam al-Busiri’s Burda.goodreads.com, 3 Sep 2009. Web. <https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7261695-the-mantle-adorned>
Razavi, Mehdi. “Ibn Sina and mysticism: Remarks and Admonitions.” Middle East Journal 51.4 (1998): 25-27. Print.
Sells, Margaret. “Ibn Sina and mysticism: Remarks and Admonitions.” The Journal of Religion 78.1 (1998):170-179. Print.