I01 Introduction to Irfan

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I01 - Introduction to Irfan

• Masumeen Islamic Centre
• http//www.masumeen.org/
• Summer Classes 2004

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Session 2

• The History of the Urafa and Sufis (key figures)
  
• Anecdotes of the Urafa and Sufis

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History of the Urafa Sufis
1st Century Salman al-Farsi, Abu Dhar
al-Ghifari, Abdullah b. al-Abbas all take their
spiritual teachings from Imam Ali a to the
Prophet s. 2nd Century The word sufi comes
into existence and individuals are organized into
groups.

Took teachings and inspiration from 1st century
ascetics and gnostics
Abu Hashim al-Kufi (d. ?) 1st person to be given
title sufi
Hasan al-Basri (d. 110 AH) 1st author of a sufi
bookMet 70 badris
Malik b. Dinar (d. 135 AH)
Teacher of
Rabia al-Adawiya (d. 135 or 185 AH) Most famous
female sufi
Ibrahim b. Adham (d. 161 AH) The Muslim Buddha
Abu Sufyan al-Thawri (d. 161 AH)
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History of the Urafa Sufis
2nd Century (contd)
Maruf al-Karkhi (d. 200 AH) Converted from
Christianity at the hands of Imam al-Rida a He
died when his ribs were crushed because of a
throng of Shiahs at the door of Imam al-Rida a
Fuzayl b. Ayaz (d. 187 AH) Student of Imam
al-Sadiq a. May have authored Misbah
al-Shariah (Latern of the Path) (attributed to
Imam al-Sadiq a
Shaqiq al-Balkhi (d. 184 AH) Student of Ibrahim
b. Adham. Met Imam al-Kadhim a and reported
several miracles from him.
3rd Century
The word arif comes into use even though
arif, marifah, etc. was already used in
hadith.
Junayd al-Baghdadi(d. 297 AH) Nephew and Student
of Sari al-SaqatiFounder of the Sober School of
Sufism
Sari al-Saqati(d. 245 AH) Student of Maruf
al-Karkhi
Harith al-Muhasibi(d. 243 AH) Student of Junayd
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History of the Urafa Sufis
3rd Century (contd)
Abu Yazid Bistami(d. 261 AH) Founder of the
DrunkenSchool of Sufism Was killed for public
statements like subhani, ma adhamu shani and
ma fil jubba ilallah
Dhu-Nun al-Misri (d. 240-250 AH)
Bishr al-Hafi (the Barefoot)(d. 226-7
AH) Companion of Sari al-Saqati. Repented at the
hands of Imam al-Kadhim a
Sahl al-Tustari (d. 282 AH)
4th Century
Husayn b. Mansur al-Hallaj(d. 306-7 AH) Most
controversial. Considered a martyr by Sufis. Was
brutally killed in public for statements like
anna al-Haqq
Abu Bakr al-Shibli(d. 334-7 AH) Student of
Junayd al-Baghdadi
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History of the Urafa Sufis
5th Century
Khwaja Abdullah Ansari(d. 481 AH) Author of
Manazil al-Sairin
Abu Said Abu al-Khayr(d. 440 AH) Traces his
chain back to Hasan al-Basri
Abul Hasan Ali al-Hujwiri(d. 470 AH) Author of
Kashf al-Mahjub
6th Century
Abu Hamid Muhammadal-Ghazali (d. 505 AH) Opposed
philosophy. Was reputed scholar. Gave up social
status in search of truth. Reconciled exoteric
and esoteric. Most famous work is Ihya Ulum al-Din
Abdul Qadir Jilani(d. 560 AH) Descendent of Imam
Hasan a. Originator of the Qadiriyya Sufi
Order. Shrine in Baghdad.
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History of the Urafa Sufis
7th Century
Jalal al-Din Rumi Mawlavi (d. 672 AH) Studied
Ibn Arabi from al-Qunawi Was a traditional
scholar before meeting and being inspired by
Shams of Tabriz Famous collection of Sufi poetry
Mathnawi
Sadr al-Din al-Qunawi(d. 672 AH) Student of Ibn
Arabi
Muhyi al-Din Ibn Arabi(d. 638 AH) Al-Shaykh
al-Akbar consider the greatest Sufi of all
times. Traces links to Jilani. Most famous works
are Futuhat al-Makiyya and Fusus
al-Hikam Numerous commentaries on his works were
written by other great Gnostics
Khwaja Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d. 672
AH)Contemporary and corresponded with al-Qunawi
Farid al-Din al-Attar(d. 628 AH) Killed by the
Mongols. Author of Tadhkirat al-Awliya (Memorial
of the Saints)
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History of the Urafa Sufis
8th Century
Hafiz al-Shirazi(d. 791 AH) Famous Sufi poet
Shaykh Mahmud al-Shabistari(d. 720 AH) Famous
for his Sufi poetry workGulshan-e-Raz
Sayyid Haydar al-Amuli (d. 782 AH) Author of Jami
al-Asrar (An integration of Ibn Arabis
metaphysics with Shiah irfan) Contemporary of
Allamah al-Hilli
Abd al-Karim al-Jili (d. 832 AH) Author of
al-Insan al-Kamil (The Universal Man)
Abd al-Razzaq al-Kashani(d. 735 AH) Wrote
commentaries on the works of Ibn Arabi and Khwaja
Abdullah al-Ansari
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History of the Urafa Sufis
9th Century
Shah Nimatullah Wali(d. 837 AH) Descendant of
Imam Ali a. Originator of the Nimatullahi Sufi
Order
Shamsuddin Muhammad al-Lahiji (d. 915 AH) Famous
for his commentary of Shabistaris
Gulshan-e-Raz Student of Allama al-Hilli for
traditional sciences Learnt mysticism from Sayyid
Muhammad Nur Baksh who studied from Maruf
al-Karkhi who learnt from Imam al-Rida a
Nur al-Din Abd al-Rahman Jami (d. 898 AH) The
last great Sufi poet of Iran
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History of the Urafa Sufis
10th Century

• After the 10th Islamic century, Sufism/Irfan
  changed
• The prominent Sufis did not have the knowledge of
  their predecessors.
• Some individuals who did not practice Sufism
  outwardly gained more knowledge in the works of
  Ibn Arabi and other mystics. For example, Shihab
  al-Din al-Suhrawardi (d. 587 AH), Mulla Sadra (d.
  1050 AH), Mulla Fayd al-Kashani (d. 1091 AH) and
  Qadi Said al-Qummi (d. 1103 AH). These
  individuals did not belong to any Sufi group or
  Order but they combined practical and theoretical
  irfan/sufism to become some of the greatest
  transcendent philosophers.
• In more recent times, some of the great urafa
  who synthesized all Islamic sciences (fiqh,
  kalam, falsafa, irfan, etc.) include Allama
  Muhammad Husayn al-Tabatabai (d. 1402 AH) and
  Ayatullah Ruhullah al-Khomeini (d. 1409 AH/1989
  CE)
• Additional Reference for the History of the
  Sufis/Urafa
• Light Within Me, Mutahhari, p. 24-42

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Teaching Stories- Anecdotes of the Urafa
Sufis -

• Themes
• Enduring Suffering and the seeking of True Love
• Trust in Allah
• Abstinence from the World
• Devotion to Allah
• Self-Accounting
• Compassion for His creation
• Correct Mentoring
• The Use of Elusive Language and Allegory
• Inviting Blame from Others / The Malamatiya
• Negative Sufi Behaviour Begging,
  Self-Humiliation, Blasphemy
• Psychic Abilities

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The Ahl al-Bayt a

• They hold a status above that of ordinary
  Gnostics and cannot be compared to Sufis or
  Urafa even though some Sufi scholars from the
  Sunni madhahib have listed them as being Sufis.
• They are described in narrations as the Face
  (wajh) of Allah, the Beautiful Names (asma
  al-husna) of Allah and the Greatest Name (ism
  al-adham) of Allah.
• They are a means for Sufis and Urafa to acquire
  closeness to Allah.
• Their light was created first, from which all
  else was created.
• They praised and glorified Allah then the angels
  learnt from them how to praise and glorify Allah.
• It is because of them, and out of their love,
  that Allah has created the heavens, the earth,
  the sun, the moon, the oceans and all that is
  contained in the universe.
• Their role in the Divine purpose requires a more
  detailed discussion that is beyond the scope of
  this course.