What is love? In a symposium apparently taking place in eight-century AD Iraq a bunch of Muslim intellectuals and Greek sages get together to define “love”. A summary & loose translation thread of their views #ValentinesDay 1/9

The symposium is recorded in the famous-text known as Meadows of Gold (مروج الذهب), by the celebrated historian, traveller, & geographer, namely al-Mas’udi (d. 956 AD). After an extensive theological debate, the Muslim scholars present are asked to define love 2/9

First up, a Shi’i theologian. “Love is the fruit of correspondence and similarity. It is what happens when two souls come together. Love emerges from the ocean of subtlety...” 3/9

Up next, a Khariji. “Love is the spittle of magic. Love is hidden but burns brighter the ember. Love cannot be unless two similar natures comes together...” 4/9

Then comes the turn of a Mu’tazili: “Love blinds reason. It acts on the hearts. Loves tires. Love makes the lover act impulsively. Love is the chalice of death.” 5/9

Hisham b. al-Hakam, the famous Shi’i theologian weighs in next. Love, he says, are like ropes cast by fate to catch the sincere in times of adversity, entrapped lovers are hardly capable of escape... 6/9

Enter the Greeks. Plato speaks. He is agnostic about love, except to say, “love is divine insanity”, that’s neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy. 7/9

Galen describes love as agreement between two persons of reason, for love doesn’t befall two idiots... 8/9

Last to speak, Hippocrates. “Love is the admixture of two souls, just like the admixture of two bodies of water.” 9/9. END.