official elmodin science and religion
نوشته های مرتبط
Introduction to Irfan
Irfan is one of the disciplines that originated within the realm of Islamic culture and developed there to attain a high level of sophistication. But before we can begin to discuss ‘irfan, we must realize that it can be approached from two viewpoints: the social and the academic.
In view of this distinction the gnostics, when referred to as belonging to a certain academic discipline, are called ‘urafa’ and when referred to as a social group are generally called Sufis (mutasawwifah).
Of course, there are and have always been ‘urafa’ – particularly amongst the Shi’ah – who bear none of these external signs to distinguish them socially from others; yet, at the same time, they have been profoundly involved in the spiritual methodology of ‘irfan (sayr wa suluk). It is these who are the real gnostics; not those who have invented for themselves hundreds of special mannerisms and customs and have brought innovations into being.
Irfan, as a scientific and academic discipline, itself has two branches: the practical and the theoretical. The practical aspect of ‘irfan describes and explains the relationship and responsibilities the human being bears towards itself, towards the world and towards God. Here, ‘irfan is similar to ethics (akhlaq), both of them being practical sciences.
The practical teaching of ‘irfan is also called the itinerary of the spiritual path (sayr wa suluk; lit. ‘traveling and journeying’). Here, the wayfarer (salik) who desires to reach the goal of the sublime peak of humanness – that is to say, tawhid – is told where to set off, the ordered stages and stations that he must traverse, the states and conditions he will undergo at these stations, and the events that will befall him. Needless to say, all these stages and stations must be passed under the guidance and supervision of a mature and perfect example of humanity who, having traveled this path, is aware of the manners and ways of each station. If not, and there is no perfect human being to guide him on his path, he is in danger of going astray.
based on ” ‘Irfan (Shi’i spiritual teachings) as compared to tasawwuf (Sufism), its beliefs, practices, different parts
(Shari’ah, Tariqa, and Haqiqa), as well as its major practitioners throughout Islamic History” By Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari.
