ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Light Within Me Part 1: An Introduction to Irfan by Shahid Murtadha Mutahhari This short introduction to irfan is a part of the author's book Ashnai ba ulum e Islami (An Introduction to the Islamic Sciences) written in seven parts: logic, philosophy, kalam , irfan , fiqh , usul al fiqh , hikmat al amali (ethics).

'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.

Unlike the scholars of other Islamic disciplines - such as the Quranic commentators ( mufassirun ), the scholars of hadith ( muhaddithun ), the jurisprudents ( fuqaha' ), the theologians ( mutakallimun ), the philosophers, the men of literature, and the poets - the 'urafa' are a group of scholars who have not only developed their own science, 'irfan , producing great scholars and important books, but have also given rise within the Islamic world to a distinct social grouping.

In this the 'urafa' are unique; for the scholars of the other Islamic disciplines - such as the jurisprudents, for instance - form solely academic groupings and are not viewed as a social group distinct from the rest of society. 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 ).

The 'urafa' and sufis are not regarded as forming a separate sect in Islam, nor do they claim themselves to be such. They are to be found within every Islamic school and sect, yet, at the same time, they coalesce to form a distinct social group.

The factors that set them apart from the rest of Islamic society are a distinctive chain of ideas and opinions, a special code governing their social intercourse, dress and even, sometimes, the way they wear their hair and beards, and their living communally in their hospices. (Pers. Khaniqah ; Ar-ribat , zawiyah ; Turk.

tekkiye ) 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 ).