Nobile e ignobile simbolismo islamico nella Divina Commedia

Abstract

Rozpatrując zagadki Boskiej Komedii, można przyjąć, że kultura muzułmańska była dobrze znana Dantemu, przede wszystkim poprzez dzieła takie jak Księga Drabiny Mahometa, Podróże Marco Polo czy prace Riccolda z Montecroce. Islam jest uznawany za zagrożenie, a jednak podziwiany w wizji Dantego. Miłość jest postrzegana jako kluczowy element chrześcijaństwa, jest to caritas i obejmuje ona każdy aspekt życia człowieka, utrzymując go w harmonii. Według Dantego Mahomet nie rozumiał tej koncepcji, dlatego stworzył nowy rodzaj wiary. Zgodnie z wizją Boskiej Komedii Mahomet znalazł się w piekle, z poczuciem winy z powodu oszustwa. Z kolei w swym dziele Raj Dante wskazuje, że zbawienie jest możliwe również w islamie, gdzie Prawda jest tolerancyjna, braterska i całkowita.

Within the mysteries of The Divine Comedy, it seems that the culture of Muslims is well known to Dante, above all thanks to the mediation of works such as the Book of Muhammad’s Ladder (Kitāb al‑miʿrāj), the Travels of Marco Polo and various writings of friar Riccoldo of Montecroce. Islam is considered a danger, yet it is also admired in Dante’s vision, for its scientific height reached in the Middle Ages. Love is the essential concept of the whole message of Christianity: it is caritas, a universal embrace that includes every aspect of man and harmonizes it. Muhammad, despite his original Christian spiritual formation, according to Dante, did not understand the concept of caritas. Therefore, he deceived others and himself, founding a new creed and a different faith, which is by no means superfluous from a Dantean point of view. Indeed, it is useless and dangerous as a heresy, due to its same nature that generates schism and, precisely, war. It is natural, in this sense, that Muhammad finds himself in hell in the vision of The Divine Comedy, grotesquely oppressed by his guilt of fraud, because he has shared the circle of love (the all‑ encompassing and Trinitarian perfection of Love) with all the hatred of his anger. However, beyond all the Muslim limits of a culture of submission and the doctrine that arises from it, Dante reveals to us in his Paradise a possible salvation also for Islam (apparently damned); and this for a very subtle yet strong way: the mystical way in its perfect sentimental Truth, which is tolerant, fraternal and inclusive.