IN a World Exhibition whose theme is "Man and his World," "La terre des hommes," and which is devoted to a display of the different aspects of man's life and activities, it is perhaps not futile to pause for a moment and pose the question who is this man to whom the world is said […]
Tag: Article
Who’s Afraid of Ecstatic Dancing ? (Pierre Lory)
Two important texts of this volume – those of M.Azmayesh and M.During – have already tackled the question of samâ‘. It appears thus clearly for us that it is not a marginal, secondary topic. On the contrary, it goes to the core of the spiritual experience in Islamic climate. When one believes, or gets a […]
Three Nimatullàhi Shrines (Dr. Mehrdàd Qayyêmi)
Historians tell us that Sufism has been the main stream through the course of Iranian culture during its long history in the Islamic period. It is no surprise that this dominant cultural influence has been particularly manifest in architecture. Sufism has been given shape in most kinds of architectural works, both religious and secular. […]
SHAH NIMATULLAH WALI – ON RIND AND RINDI (DR. JANIS ESHOTS)
It is no secret to the people of tasting that the term rind, like most other key terms of Persian mysticism, does not translate satisfactorily into any modern Western language, and I shall make no effort to translate it. Instead, in order to give some initial notion of the rind and rindí (the state of […]
The Renewer of the Nimatullàhi Order in Iran(Dr. Shahram Pazouki)
Sufism is the spiritual reality of Islam, even if it was not known as “Sufism” at the inception of Islam. Phenomenologically speaking, it proves to be the essence of Islam, which gives life to it, like the soul gives life to the body. In Sufi terminology, Islam has two aspects: sharí‘at, its outer dimension, […]
Principles A Epistle by Shàh Nimatullàh Wali(Dr. Muaammad Legenhausen)
According to the Sufis and the masters of theology, existence as it is in itself, that is, not conditioned,4 is more general than universal and particular, singular and general,5 absolute and restricted and mental and external.
AN HEIR TO TWO MYSTICAL LITERARY TRADITIONS(Dr. Nasrollah Pourjavady)
Nêr al-Dín Shàh Ni‘matullàh Walí (1331-1437) is primarily known as a Sufi and the founder of the order that is named after him, an order which has experienced a revival in the past two centuries in Iran. What has added to Shàh Ni‘matullàh’s fame in Iran in recent decades is the publication of his […]
Shàh Nimatullàh Wali (Hajj Dr. Nur Ali Tabandeh)
Wherever our great men are honored and accordingly a gathering is organized, we are obliged to take part as ones who have views on the matter. Thus, when I found out about the good intention of the Symposium on Shàh Ni‘matullàh Walí,1 I approved it and viewed the request for a paper favorably. I […]
sufi path(Hajj Ali Tabandeh)
all of which amount to much the same thing. Different definitions have been given of “æêfism” (taæawwuf) and “gnosticism” (‘irfàn),3Taæawwuf is the journey of the soul in search of the Truth, as well as its arrival. This is the renunciation of everything but God. It is paying complete attention and having a heart-felt connection to […]
Observations on the Meaning of Bayat(Hajj Dr. Nur Ali Tabandeh)
Bay‘at literally means buying and selling, and comes from the word bay‘, although it pertains to a specific type of buying and selling. In the Qur’àn, the following verse is specifically about bay‘at, in which God says: (Verily, Allah has purchased from the faithful their selves and their properties, and in return for them is […]