'The Conference of the Birds' by Farīd al-dīn ʿAttar
Conference of the Birds’ (Mantiq al-Ṭayr) by Farīd al-dīn ʿAttar (d.1221) is considered a masterpiece of Persian poetry. It is also one of the great mystical texts of the world, continuing to inspire artists and spiritual seekers in both the East and the West since it was written in the 13th century. As such, it provides an excellent introduction to underlying themes and principles of Islamic spirituality and mysticism.
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Resources for this course
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Introduction to ʿAttar and 'Conference of the Birds' |
A introduction to the life and times of Farīd al-dīn ʿAttar, plus some background to 'Conference of the Birds'. |
Jane Clark | |
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Week 4: Some Quotes on faith and infdelity |
Quotes by Hallāj, ʿAyn al-Qudat al-Hamadanī and ʿAttar on the subject of faith and infidelity |
Jane Clark | |
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Shaykh San'an |
A poem by Geoff Johnson inspired by the story of Shaykh San'an in 'Attar's 'Conference of the Birds'. |
Jane Clark | |
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The Image of the Beloved |
A talk by Jane Clark on the role of imagination in Islamic love poetry |
Jane Clark | |
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A Reading List for 'Conference of the Birds' |
A reading list giving information about the best translations and commentaries available for 'Attar's 'Conference of the Birds'. |
Jane Clark |