☰ Contents · Literature

Analysis of “Farhod and Shirin” and the perfect human being

Lessons 14–15 · 2 lessons · Q. Yo‘ldoshev, V. Qodirov, J. Yo‘ldoshbekov. Literature: textbook for Grade 9 of general secondary schools. Revised and expanded 4th edition. “O‘zbekiston” NMIU, Tashkent, 2019
15

The perfect human being

Textbook: pp. 85–86
GoalExplain the concepts of tasawwuf, nafs and the perfect human being, and why overcoming nafs matters.
New words
tasawwuf (Sufism) · tasavvufnafs, the base self · nafsthe perfect human being · komil insonspiritual guide · murshid
Explanation

Tasawwuf is a teaching based on the religion of Islam whose aim is to purify a person in soul and spirit, that is, to raise the perfect human being. A person with a pure heart, high spirituality and who is mature in mind and body is a perfect human. According to the textbook the way of purification is one – overcoming the nafs. By nafs is meant, besides the appetite for food and drink, the sum of faults that stain the soul – ignorance, conceit, pride, greed, stinginess, careerism, anger; Navoiy says that if you subdue the dog of the nafs there is no hero like you. The obstacles in “Farhod and Shirin” – dragon, demon, iron man – are read as symbols of inner base urges, and Farhod’s teachers Boniy, Moniy and Qoran as guides who teach building love in the heart, engraving the heart, and breaking the base urges. In Sufism love means, besides affection, the sum of virtues such as will, patience, knowledge, modesty, justice and generosity, and it is the weapon for overcoming the nafs.

Worked examples
Example: in everyday life overcoming the nafs means holding back anger, not betraying others’ rights, not yielding to craving and conceit. Such a struggle needs patience and knowledge, and it is a step toward perfection.
Example: the textbook calls Farhod the most fully created image of the perfect human in Uzbek literature. His modesty, craft, care for the people and faithfulness in love are signs of perfection.
Class activity

Writing exercise “The Khusrav within me”: each student privately writes one fault of their own and a way to overcome it; later they are read anonymously in a general discussion.

Practice
1
Who is the perfect human being? State the textbook’s definition in your own words.
2
What is meant by “nafs” in tasawwuf?
3
What are the dragon, demon and iron man that Farhod defeats read as symbols of?
4
Why is love considered the weapon for overcoming the nafs?