La hierohistoria en el fundamento de la interpretación simbólica (Asās al-Taʾwīl) de Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān: el nacimiento de Jesús

Abstract

The writings of Fatimid Ismaili intellectuals emphasize the importance of understanding the world and faith by maintaining a proper balance between their exterior, physical, literal, and apparent forms (their ẓāhir) and their esoteric, spiritual, symbolic, and intellectual realities (their bāṭin). The process used by the luminaries of this Mediterranean Muslim empire to evince the latter from the former is known as taʾwīl, or symbolic interpretation. This article analyzes the concept of taʾwīl, focusing on its Ismaili form; introduces the Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation (Asas altaʾwīl) of Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān, one of the preeminent authors of works of this genre; analyzes the concept of sacred biography, hierohistory and the spiritual hierarchy (ḥudūd al-dīn) as elaborated in this text; and then translates a portion of the Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation about the birth of Jesus (Q3:42-48) as an example of this esoteric approach to sacred history.