Abu al-Hasan al-Daylami (died c. 1001/02) was a Sufi author of Daylamite origin, who was based in Shiraz during the 10th century. His book ʿAtf al-alif al-ma'luf 'ala al-lam al-ma'tuf ("The attachment of the alif of union to the lām of inclination"), albeit written in Arabic, is considered the first Persian Sufi text on the subject of divine love.[1]
Abu al-Hasan al-Daylami | |
|---|---|
| Born | First half of the 10th century |
| Died | 1001/02 |
| Occupation | Sufi author |
| Notable work | ʿAtf al-alif al-ma'luf 'ala al-lam al-ma'tuf Sirat al-Shaykh al-Kabir Abu Abd Allah ibn al-Khafif al-Shirazi Mashyakha |
Indirect information confirms that al-Daylami belonged to one of the Daylamite families of the Buyid era, who during the first half of the 10th-century left northern Iran and settled in places to the south, especially the region of Fars. Based on this, al-Daylami was most likely born in the first half of the 10th-century. Al-Daylami studied irfan (gnosis) under Ibn Khafif (died 982), who was also from a Daylamite background. From 963 and onwards, while al-Daylami was still young, he was trained in suluk (spiritual wayfaring) by Ibn Khafif.[1]
Al-Daylami wrote about the life and sayings of Ibn Khafif in his book Sirat al-Shaykh al-Kabir Abu Abd Allah ibn al-Khafif al-Shirazi. Its information suggests that al-Daylami interacted and affiliated with the majority of Ibn Khafif's students and friends. Al-Daylami also reportedly met Abu Nasr as-Sarraj (died 988) and Abu Abd Allah Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Baytar (died 974), according to a report in the Shadd al-izar, which quotes al-Daylami.[1] According to an account by the Egyptian historian al-Qifti (died 1248), al-Daylami was gathered with others in the presence of the Buyid vizier Mu'ayyad al-Mulk Abu Ali Ahmad ibn Husayn Rukhkhaji, who had been in office since 1002.[2]
Al-Daylami seemingly visited the cities of Mecca, Baghdad, and Antioch, and probably other places as well. He ultimately went back to Shiraz, where he stayed for a long time. He died in 1001 or 1002. No surviving information exists about his family, students, death location or burial place.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Hosseini 2017.
- ^ Böwering 1995, pp. 338–339.
Sources
edit- Böwering, Gerhard (1995). "Deylamī, Abū'l-Ḥasan ʿAlī". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Volume VII/4: Deylam, John of–Divorce IV. In modern Persia. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 338–339. ISBN 978-1-56859-022-6.
- Hosseini, Zahra (2017). "al-Daylamī, Abū al-Ḥasan". In Madelung, Wilferd; Daftary, Farhad (eds.). Encyclopaedia Islamica Online. Brill Online. ISSN 1875-9831.