The natural world as a medium of otherworldly contemplation and animals as figures of piety in Ibn Barrağan of Seville (d. 536/1141)

Abstract

Representative of a movement that was both mystical and philosophical,Rinitiated by Ibn Masarra (d. 319/931) and brought to its fullest extent by Ibn 'Arabī (d. 638/1240), Ibn Barrağan of Seville (d. 536/1141) emphasised in his work the revelatory aspect of nature and showed himself to be attentive to the natural world.2 Thus, in his Qur'anic commentaries, we discover that the humble consideration of the eggs of ants, the cries of doves and the milk of cows leads to eminent metaphysical speculations. Ibn Barrağān believes that religious literacy should not be limited to reading the Qur'an, and that it should be complemented by a search for the signs of God in the world. The attention he pays to the natural world leads us, in this chapter, to question the place he gives to animals within Creation. To what extent does he consider animals to be sources of spiritual instruction? Are we to approach animals as models of piety? We will attempt to answer these questions through study of his major 'exegesis' or tafsir (Tanbih al-afhäm ilä tadabbur al-kitāb al-hakim) and his minor one (İdäh al-hikma bi-ahkām al-ibra). After a brief presentation of his work and world-view, we will clarify his understanding of'symbolic transposition' (i'tibar) and articulate why this practice is a source of teaching ('ibra) when it takes the natural world as its support. Finally, we will consider what he believes characterises animal piety...