The symbolical and mystical meanings in "ʾAbdullah of the Sea and ʾAbdullah of the Land" (The Arabian Nights)

This article argues that the tale (#163, Nights 940–46)) from The Arabian Nights, entitled ‘ʾAbdullah of the Sea and ʾAbdullah of the Land’ encapsulates highly spiritual and symbolical meanings that appear different on land and on sea. It is divided in three parts. The first tackles the view of a si...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Main Author: El-Zein, Amira (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge 2008
In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Further subjects:B Literature
B Mysticism
B Islam
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
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Summary:This article argues that the tale (#163, Nights 940–46)) from The Arabian Nights, entitled ‘ʾAbdullah of the Sea and ʾAbdullah of the Land’ encapsulates highly spiritual and symbolical meanings that appear different on land and on sea. It is divided in three parts. The first tackles the view of a simple and clear Islam represented by a fisherman named ʾAbdullah. Part two deals with a more hermetic Islam embodied by a merman who bears the same name. Part three analyses the complex symbols encoded in the three even numbers, namely, two, four, and 40. The tale as a whole illustrates the difference between exoteric Islam (the Land), characterized by simplicity and clarity, and Sufi Islam, distinctive for its depth and its mystery (the Sea).
ISSN:0959-6410
Contains:In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/09596410802335408