The Kashf al-mahjúb: The oldest Persian treatise on SúfiismHujviri, ‘Ali ibn ‘Usman
Islamic
The Kashf al-mahjúb: The oldest Persian treatise on Súfiism
Hujviri, ‘Ali ibn ‘Usman
Sufism -- Early works to 1800
He has a peculiar doctrine in Ṣúfiism and is the model of a number of
aspirants to Ṣúfiism, who follow him and are called Núrís. The whole
body of aspirants to Ṣúfiism is composed of twelve sects, two of which
are condemned (_mardúd_), while the remaining ten are approved
(_maqbúl_). The latter are the Muḥásibís, the Qaṣṣárís, the Ṭayfúrís,
the Junaydís, the Núrís, the Sahlís, the Ḥakímís, the Kharrázís, the
Khafífís, and the Sayyárís. All these assert the truth and belong to the
mass of orthodox Moslems. The two condemned sects are, firstly, the
Ḥulúlís,[78] who derive their name from the doctrine of incarnation
(_ḥulúl_) and incorporation (_imtizáj_), and with whom are connected the
Sálimí sect of anthropomorphists;[79] and secondly, the Ḥallájís, who
have abandoned the sacred law and have adopted heresy, and with whom are
connected the Ibáḥatís[80] and the Fárisís.[81] I shall include in this
book a chapter on the twelve sects and shall explain their different
doctrines.
Footnote 78:
B. has “the Ḥulmánís”, i.e. the followers of Abú Ḥulmán of Damascus.
See Shahristání, Haarbrücker’s translation, ii, 417.
Footnote 79:
The Sálimís are described (ibid.) as “a number of scholastic
theologians (_mutakallimún_) belonging to Baṣra”.
Footnote 80:
“Ibáḥatí” or “Ibáḥí” signifies “one who regards everything as
permissible”.
Footnote 81:
See the eleventh section of the fourteenth chapter.
Núrí took a praiseworthy course in rejecting flattery and indulgence and
in being assiduous in self-mortification. It is related that he said: “I
came to Junayd and found him seated in the professorial chair
(_muṣaddar_). I said to him: ‘O Abu ´l-Qásim, thou hast concealed the
truth from them and they have put thee in the place of honour; but I
have told them the truth and they have pelted me with stones,’” because
flattery is compliance with one’s desire and sincerity is opposition to
it, and men hate anyone who opposes their desires and love anyone who
complies with their desires. Núrí was the companion of Junayd and the
disciple of Sarí. He had associated with many Shaykhs, and had met Aḥmad
b. Abi ´l-Ḥawárí. He is the author of subtle precepts and fine sayings
on various branches of the mystical science. It is related that he said:
“Union with God is separation from all else, and separation from all
else is union with Him,” i.e., anyone whose mind is united with God is
separated from all besides, and _vice versâ_: therefore union of the
mind with God is separation from the thought of created things, and to
be rightly turned away from phenomena is to be rightly turned towards
God. I have read in the Anecdotes that once Núrí stood in his chamber
for three days and nights, never moving from his place or ceasing to
wail. Junayd went to see him and said: “O Abu ´l-Ḥasan, if thou knowest
that crying aloud to God is of any use, tell me, in order that I too may
cry aloud; but if thou knowest that it avails naught, surrender thyself
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account