Lists of Prophets in Persian Poetry: Application, Classification, and Context

Abstract

Traditionally, medieval Persian poems have an introduction that praises God and the Prophet. Often the praise is expressed by comparing Muhammad with his predecessors. Usually the conclusion (often implicit) of such a comparison is that Muhammad has surpassed all the other prophets in everything and, unlike them, has no imperfection. It is not uncommon for the description of the mir‘āj to be used as the basis for such a listing. This tradition goes back to a hadith describing Muhammad’s ascension to the divine throne, where he was greeted in turn by all his predecessors. The use of the lists of prophets is closely connected with the theme of the affirmation of monotheism — tawhīd. The literary canon prescribes mentioning this theme in introductions of various kinds, be it the first chapter of a poem, the first ghazal in a divan, or the beginning of a separate qasida. The enumeration of the names of the prophets and the elements of the stories related to them (the miracles they performed, the trials they faced, or the sins they committed) demonstrate the omnipotence of God and the immutability of His will, and point to the path that the believer must take to be united with the Absolute. An analogue and prototype of this technique of Persian poetry are the so-called rows of prophets found in the Qur’an. The function of such rows is to demonstrate the prophetic succession from the first man, Adam, to the “Seal of Prophecy”, Muhammad, by presenting the legendary history of humanity before the advent of Islam.