Anti-Slavery Civil War

Ibn Fattoumas journey is a journey that partakes in the unimaginable struggles of both existential and intellectual levels as the character attempts to determine the meaning of life in relation to him himself. The Journey of Ibn Fattouma revolves around the findings of a well organized society with freedom of religion while also partaking in answering the characters own personal essential struggles. While Conference of the Birds is about the journey of 30 birds, led by a hoopoe, whom he and the birds travel through the seven valleys. Each and every one of these seven valleys taught a different moral. By the end of the last valley, those who are left, their light is expressed and they are at once at peace, becoming one with themselves finding that they are in search of the Simurgh. Hence with both of these stories we can understand that the poem the Conference of the Birds is about being one with god and how he should be your primary concern when communicating with the world. While Ibn Fattouma is on a journey in search of a society free of religion.

With an understanding between The Journey of Ibn Fattouma and Conference of the Birds, a difference between the two can be found. There can be an understanding that Conference of the Birds is the connection between one with god and enlightenment, while Ibn Fattouma is the connection between one and a balanced society. This expression of freedom in The Journey of Ibn Fattouma can be found page page 84 and 85, when Qindil hears the athan & asks the Iman of Halba is a Muslim country. The Iman replies by saying, “Halba is a free country. All religions are to be found in it. It has Muslims, Jews, Christians, and Buddhists; in fact, it also has atheists and pagans.”(Mahfouz 84-85) In addition, freedoms like religion were very unknown. Halba was once a place of great suffering and injustice, before it came to be the free land that it currently is. Fighting alongside Pioneers who wanted their rights and freedoms that they strongly believed were theirs. This idea can be compared just like in the American Civil War, the Union believed strongly in anti-slavery. While in the Conference of the Birds we can find this expression of searching not so much for freedom within society but freedom through enlightenment with god or one with the Simorph. On page 60 this is illustrated when the remaining thirty birds find Simurg and who says, “As for Me, I am more than thirty birds. I am the very essence of the Simurg. Annihilate yourselves in Me joyfully and gloriously so that you find yourselves in Me.”(Attar 60). This was the moment when the 30 remaining birds gave themselves to Simurrg to be once and for all one with themselves.

Again we can conclude the differences between these two books. As one expresses the unimaginable struggles of both existential and intellectual levels as the character attempts to determine the meaning of life in relation to him himself.. While the other is about the journey of 30 birds, led by a hoopoe, traveling through the seven valleys, each teaching a different moral, overall not being with oneself but one with god, being manifested and in peace, becoming aware that they are after all the Simurgh.

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