Concept

The Awe and Justice of Umar in Attar's Mokhtar Nameh (Chapter 3, Poem 2)

In Chapter 3, Poem 2 of Attar's Mokhtar Nameh, the poet praises an unnamed, awe-inspiring leader. This is a clear allusion to the second Islamic Caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab. The poem draws upon two specific Islamic traditions to illustrate his spiritual authority and rigorous justice:

  1. The Demon Fleeing: The line mentioning the demon (Satan) taking the world in one step out of fear refers to a famous Hadith which states that Satan would avoid any path walked by Umar.
  2. Calming the Earthquake: The imagery of the earth trembling from his awe and then finding rest from his 'scourge' (whip) alludes to an anecdote where Umar purportedly stopped an earthquake in Medina by striking the ground with his whip, demanding to know if he had not been just.

Attar uses these allegories to emphasize how true justice and spiritual majesty can command both the metaphysical and physical worlds.

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Updated 2026-07-03

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Humanities

Literature

Persian Literature Prerequisite Course