“My strength comes from hunger and my weakness From satiety”: The narrative of Sahl of Tustar

Abstract

The present publication includes a Russian translation of the 28th chapter from ʻAttar's hagiographic collection, Memorial of God's friends (Taẕkiratu'l-awliyā). The hero of this chapter, Sahl of Tustar (d. 896), was a Qur'an commentator and a Suf sheik affliated both with Suf and Islamic Law circles of 9th century Basra. The frst translation of this text into Russian from the Persian original (in M. Esteʻlami's critical edition), supplied with historical and philological commentary, is prefaced by a concise introduction that provides basic data on Tustari's life, teachings and works in Arabic. It is noted that although ʻAttar constructed his narrative by borrowing mostly from Arabic sources, his Persian portrait of Sahl looks different. ʻAttar's narration is an account of self-sacrifcing deeds of a Suf man of faith as well as an account of his homiletic sayings on the benefts of penitence, hunger and trust in God; Tustari's achievements in esoteric interpretation of the Qu'ran are barely mentioned.