Which reflections of Islam are in the tale of Maruf the Cobbler - Essay Example

s Ma’aruf the Cobbler Ma’aruf the cobbler was one of the stories told in the 1001 Arabian Nights, which recounts the adventures of a cobbler, who goes from being a poor cobbler to a King after making sincere supplications to God. Ma’aruf is a simpleton, who is put through many miseries by his wicked wife and endures great tests. The story is set in Cairo, which recounts the story of medieval Middle East and contains many elements and motifs from the eastern culture, along with many reflections of Islamic traditions.

The main focus of the essay is to highlight the Islamic values and teachings that also has many parallels with the life of the Prophet. One of the most important Islamic teaching that the story entails is the trait of being steadfast and patient, which in Islam every person is supposed to practice, as it is a characteristic loved by God. Ma’aruf is a humble man, who is constantly tormented by his wife and taken advantage of his meek nature. However, despite the problems and hardships that he is put through, he continues to remain steadfast and patient.

As a matter of fact, he shows great strength of his moral character, which is reflected when his wife commands him to get a vermicelli cake drenched in bee honey and Ma’aruf is unable to earn enough money to get her what she desires. Despite the turmoil he is in, Ma’aruf continues to pray to Allah and eventually he was given help after one of his neighboring shop owner decides to give him food and the cake for free. Therefore, this event reinforces the belief that regardless of what calamity that may afflict a person, he is supposed to stay patient and ask Allah for help.

(Kritzeck 1964, p. 299) This aspect of the Islamic faith is demonstrated and reinforced through several incidents within the story. Even to the extent that it is implied that after Ma’aruf invokes God for help, he even get it through supernatural entities like djinns (Kritzeck 1964, p. 302, 318). Moreover, Ma’aruf is often known for giving alms to the poor and needy, and helping others out which is another fundamental Islamic practice that pleases God and gets his protection granted to the individual.

Therefore, Ma’aruf was always protected, even when there was a serious threat to his life, he was able to get away with the help of the people and even supernatural beings. Various aspects of Ma’aruf’s life is also reminiscent and takes heavy inspirations from the life of the Prophet Muhammad. For instance, when Ma’aruf is completely tired of his wife’s trickery and retreats to a cave to find escape and solace, it is exactly like the event in the prophet’s life, when he used to stave in a cave to meditate and ponder over life.

It is a decisive point in both the prophet’s life and Ma’aruf’s life, because it signifies the beginning of their journey or adventure. Furthermore, when Ma’aruf is transported to China by the djinn, it bears great resemblance with the Prophet’s journey to the heavens, which was also covered in a matter of a few minutes (Kritzeck 1964, p. 302). Ma’aruf was the epitome of the characteristics that the Prophet beseeched the people to adopt. In the end, Ma’aruf was able to triumph overall his enemies and even manages to pave the way for retribution for his wife, who remains incorrigible throughout the story.

Retribution is yet another motif in the story, which underlines the belief that people will get good if they perform good deed and will get bad if they are evil. Ma’aruf’s wife is not only evil to him, but also tries to betray even after he forgives her and takes her back. Eventually she meets her demise and the story sets up the premise that every good person will meet a good fortune. Therefore, the story succinctly describes and enumerates fundamental Islamic principles by creating a parallel with the stories of the Prophet.

Work CitedKritzeck, James. Anthology of Islamic Literature (Ma’aruf the Cobbler). Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books. 1964. Print.