Conference Of The Birds - Presentation.docx

Character Review Hoopoe: The hoopoe is the first bird introduced in The Conference of the Birds. Heaven has sent him to lead the other birds in their quest for a king. The hoopoe is beloved of a prophet, trusted by God, has traveled the world, searched for dry land during the Deluge, and explored with Solomon, whom he has also served as dignified friend and messenger to the Queen of Sheba (summarizing the situation in th Qur'an 27:20-28). The hoopoe even has the bismillah (opening words of the Qur'an) etched on his beak. He sports a long erectile crest, called a "feathered spray," for a crown. In the cover painting by Habib Allah (ca. 1600 CE), the hoopoe appears to the right of the peacock and hawk and is being pointed to by the stork's red beak. The hoopoe wants his fellow birds to accompany him to find Simorgh, their rightful king. He tells them outright that the quest is long and dangerous. He has been lifted above the firmament and knows no fear in the trackless desert, but the frightened pilgrims know plenty, and the hoopoe has first to engage in a question-and-answer session to allay their fears and set right their misconceptions, errors, and sins. The hoopoe is blunt in his conclusions and judgments, but then takes the edge off by telling parables and stories to illustrate his point. After all of the birds have had their say and the hoopoe has made rebuttal, they set off, only to stop for an election of a leader, for Sufis always need a sheikh (spiritual leader) to teach the group. He is invested with all authority. He continues talking about the Way, emphasizing the need to get rid of Self. He develops seventeen major themes and then describes the topography of the seven metaphorical valleys they must traverse. The poem nearly ended, the hoopoe and his flock of 100,000 finally take wing. A lifetime later, 30 remain alive and show up at the Simorgh's doorstep. There, the birds learn that the trip has been all about seeing their true sides within and they are dissolved into the divine Unity. Simorgh: The birds' rightful sovereign, Simorgh lives beyond the unidentified Kaf's mountain peak. He is always near them yet is transcendent. He shares his throne with no one. He is omnipotent, magnificent, unintelligible, mysterious, unfathomable by Reason, and unnameable. Creatures seek him but are deluded by whim. The Conference of the Birds is an allegory about a great flock setting off in quest of the Simorgh and along the Way learning to look into themselves in the Sufi manner. The hoopoe, King Solomon's wise messenger, is elected the birds' leader and functions as a Sufi master. The preparation for the flight fills the lion's share of the poem. At the onset, the birds are told that Simorgh first appears in China and his fame spreads. People fancy how he looks based on the single feather that he lets float down. It is said to have a counterpart in every soul. Simorgh is the "Friend" of God. In a time of downcast spirits, the birds learn more specifically that the Simorgh long ago creates birds as his shadow, so they have a natural affinity. The truth comes out a lifetime later, as 30 of the 100,000 birds that set off arrive at the Simorgh's doorstep. His servant turns them away, saying the Simorgh is too exalted to receive such vagrants. He relents, however, and takes the birds through 100,000 veils of dark and light to behold the Throne of Thrones. They are amazed to see themselves mirrored, and the Simorgh explains that because they are thirty birds, he appears as thirty birds—si morgh in Persian. If they were forty or fifty, his name and appearance would be otherwise. The journey has been about seeing who they truly are inside: the only authentic form of learning.

For the other character review: http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-the-conference-of-the-birds/#gsc.tab=0

Notes: The birds discuss the proposed journey to the simurgh 

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HOOPOE tells the birds the story of Shaikh Sanan who was a pious men but for a love of a Christian lady gave up his religion. But his followers prayed for him and the lady got inspired to follow Islam. The moral was there is a struggle of bodily desires and spiritual desires. After listening to this the birds gave their former life up and were filled with love for the Simurgh and considered the start of the journey. As they probably went astray They wanted a leader to guide them in this journey whom they promise to follow no matter and the way to choose him was through casting votes. After discussion and casting of votes, HOOPOE became the leader. Everyone agreed they will obey her even if it requires risking their lives. HOOPOE was given a crown. (This could have symbolic meaning) A large number of birds flew together towards the entrance. The entrance of the valley frightened them, but they build up mutual courage as their desire to revive everything got reinstalled. But as the path was long and hard a silence broke between them and asked HOOPOE why the valley was deserted. To which she said the King’s might which have silent the people he has led here. (I don’t realllyy get it)

Anecdote of Bayazid Bistami  

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So I think HOOPOE tell this story to support the point about why the valley was silent. Shaikh Bayazid experience in a town which was very quiet on a starry night and that town had no signs of a living being. He questioned himself that why such a beautiful town was so quiet with no worshipper. A voice answered that not everyone is worthy of being admitted before the king and only a few who gives any heed and who are patient gets admission in his court. The court is probably used to symbolise the beautiful town and it can mean that people who don’t put an effort don’t get to see all beauty. The court or the town can also be a symbol of heaven and as we know only a few who offer prayer on time (were not sleepy) and stopped themselves from the bad (paid heed) will get to enter and be in paradise. The reason for HOOPOE to tell this story is to encourage the birds to stay strong and patient as these are the people who are rewarded in the end.

The birds set out 

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During their journey when they saw the path nit ending and the continuous detachment from the land took a troll on them they asked HOOPOE to advise them about how they should behave once they meet the kind. As hoopoe has been in the presences of Solomon and knows the etiquette to be around royals. Also has a vast experience as HOOPOE has travelled the world. They called her their Imam and asked him for guidance, help and to listen to their difficulties. HOOPOE fixed her crown and sat on her throne to listen to them one by one. (so I really think the crown and throne is a symbol of something couldn’t abhi tak find anything)

Speech if the first bird 

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the first bird asked HOOPOE why she is the leader and what makes her special even though they are physically the same and what are the sins that they commented to come out as ignorant. To which HOOPOE replied that she was lucky enough to be in the presence of Solomon, and one should not promote disobedience. If one is patient and obedient they can also be lucky to win an honour to meet Solomon. (This can mean that some privileges are a product of Goodluck that comes when one is patient and obedient)

Mahmud and the fisherman  

These stories HOOPOE tells the first bird to support the answer she gave about being lucky. Sultan Mahmud was riding his horse when he came along a river where he saw a boy trying to catch fish. He looked upset, so the sultan asked him what has happened. He explained how he is poor and his catch for the day determines weather he will have dinner for his family. The sultan asked if he can try casting the net to catch some fishes, and then he managed to catch hundreds. The boy proclaimed that he has such a good fortune on which the Sultan corrected the boy that the Sultan caught these fish and he was the good fortune. The boy asked the Sultan to take a share from the catch on which the sultan said he will take the next day’s catch. The next day the Sultan hired him to catch fish and made him an equal by partnering with him. The boy said about this that he was lucky to have met the fortunate monarch.

Mahmud and the woodcutter 

Another story where Sultan Mahmud met a woodcutter who tripped over and needed help. When the Sultan helped him and went on his way back to his army. But he asked his army to block in the other road, so the woodcutter has to pass in front of me. The woodcutter like the sultan planned got face to face with the sultan and upon recognising asked him if the sultan remember him. The sultan acted like he didn’t know him and asked about what he does for a living. The poor man told him how he works hard and hardly makes enough and if he wishes him well he would like some food on which the sultan asked him for the price of his faggot. The poor man told him a bag of gold, the guards laughed at the poor guy saying it’s not even worth barley. On which the poor man replied as the Sultan touched them and have increased the value.

Speech of the second bird 

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Another bird confessed its weakness and that it cannot undertake this painfully long and dangerous journey. And that it was fearful as many has perished looking for simurgh in the past. HOOPOE on this replies that beings perish eventually, and it doesn’t matter how you are oldyoung, brave etc. But it is better to lose your life on a meaningful thing like those quest. As even if you were to fail at least you will die in a path while making a few mistakes doing something you desire something that is far more meaningful than being wasted away. HOOPOE pointed out how he has seen only a few who are actually free as they identify with someone of something beyond the world’s riches. (I did not get the whole leaves tree love thing)

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She explained that when someone truly loves something even if he is physically feeble or the love does not let him rest. The man can draw strength from the love that reside in that man’s heart to keep working towards it.

Anecdote of the contemplative Story of Rabiah The fool of god Speech of the third bird Anecdote of a criminal The angel Gabriel and the good intention The sufi God rebukes Moses The Query of the fourth bird Anecdote of Shable Quarrel of the two Sufis The kind and the beggar Excuses of the fifth bird An anecdote of abbasah A kind Questions a Dervish Excuses of the sixth bird