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
5. A work, of which the title is not mentioned, in explanation of the
sayings of Ḥusayn b. Manṣúr al-Ḥalláj (p. 153).
6. _Kitáb al-bayán li-ahl al-`iyán_, on union with God (p. 259).
7. _Baḥr al-qulúb_ (p. 259).
8. _Al-Ri`áyat li-ḥuqúq Allah_, on the Divine unity (p. 280).
9. A work, of which the title is not mentioned, on faith (p. 286).
None of these books has been preserved.
The _Kashf al-Maḥjúb_,[9] which belongs to the later years of the
author’s life, and, partly at any rate, to the period of his residence
in Lahore, was written in reply to certain questions addressed to him by
a fellow-townsman, Abú Sa`íd al-Hujwírí. Its object is to set forth a
complete system of Ṣúfiism, not to put together a great number of
sayings by different Shaykhs, but to discuss and expound the doctrines
and practices of the Ṣúfís. The author’s attitude throughout is that of
a teacher instructing a pupil. Even the biographical section of the work
(pp. 70-175) is largely expository. Before stating his own view the
author generally examines the current opinions on the same topic and
refutes them if necessary. The discussion of mystical problems and
controversies is enlivened by many illustrations drawn from his personal
experience. In this respect the _Kashf al-Maḥjúb_ is more interesting
than the _Risála_ of Qushayrí, which is so valuable as a collection of
sayings, anecdotes, and definitions, but which follows a somewhat formal
and academic method on the orthodox lines. No one can read the present
work without detecting, behind the scholastic terminology, a truly
Persian flavour of philosophical speculation.
Footnote 9:
Its full title is _Kashf al-maḥjúb li-arbáb al-qulúb_ (Ḥájjí Khalífa,
v, 215).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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