‘A Real-Life Jātaka Tale’
- Autor(en)
- Sara Kuehn
- Abstrakt
This article explores Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan’s (1914–1944) journey from her familial roles to her wartime resistance and literary “writing resistance” (Curtis 2019), illustrating how these aspects have solidified her status within the Inayati Sufi tradition. It examines Noor’s transformation into a multifaceted icon celebrated for her selflessness, social activism, valor, light-bringing qualities and blessings.
Drawing on Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity (1999; 2011), this article examines the gendered aspects of Inayati visual culture, highlighting how “seeing” Noor functions as both a sensory and spiritual act within the lived experiences of the Inayatiyya. Her image fosters a multisensory interplay between visual perception and imagination, evoking devotion.
Posthumously recognized as the first woman in the Inayati initiatic chain (silsila), Noor is not only remembered as Inayat Khan’s daughter (Pīrzādi) but also as a saint (Ḥaẓrat), martyr (Shahīda), and Sufi guide (Shaykha), embodying spiritual authority and expanding her father’s vision for women’s roles in Sufi leadership.
The article highlights Noor’s ‘inward turn’ as a synthesis of sensory and spiritual vision, navigating the intersections of gender, spirituality, and social justice. It reconsiders her legacy within Sufism, addressing her self-sacrifice and advancing new understandings of female spiritual leadership, martyrdom, and devotion in contemporary contexts.- Organisation(en)
- Institut für Islamisch-Theologische Studien
- Journal
- Religions
- Publikationsdatum
- 2025
- Peer-reviewed
- Ja
- ÖFOS 2012
- 603909 Religionswissenschaft, 605010 Visuelle Kultur, 504014 Gender Studies
- Schlagwörter
- Link zum Portal
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/d3ea621e-e47f-4669-9e9b-67d420caaf08