Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
PhD Student, Department of islamic Mysticism, Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Religion and Mysticism, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3
Assistant Professor, Department of islamic Mysticism, Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Contemporary researchers pay less attention to the intellectual principles of the spiritual movements of Islam in matters related to the worldly life and lifestyles. “Work” is one of these principles, which has gained special importance in the contemporary era and the Islamic spirituality also paid attention to its ethical and spiritual dimensions. The Malāmatīs of Khorāsān, who were one of the most authentic Iranian spiritualists in the Islamic era, had a special attitude towards work as a spiritual matter.
Paying attention to the intellectual principles and the practical method of the most prominent representatives of Malāmatīs (Ḥamdūn Ķaṣṣār, Abū Ḥafṣ Ḥaddād and Abū Uthmān Ḥīrī), with the method of textual analysis, shows that their focus on the self-blame (malāma) and at the consequence, hiding the conduct (solūk) and fighting against hypocrisy, made them to criticize those who have advised to leave the work and business under the pretext of asceticism and reliance (tawakkul).
Few reports show that the Malāmatīs, both in the field of opinion and in the field of action, have considered the work as a means to promote the inner self (bāṭin) and fight against the ego (nafs). In their opinion, the work is the best way to earn lawful (Ḥalāl) sustenance, and by working, the wayfarer (sālik), in addition to self-blame, will be freed from falling into the trap of hypocrisy, and it is not only compatible with the two doctrines of reliance (tawakkul) and poverty (faqr), but also is necessary to be considered, because it is the best way to hide one's conduct (solūk).
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