Sufism and Philosophy in the Contemporary Shia Seminary

Autorentext

SeyedAmirHossein Asghariis a Research Associate in the Department of Religion at Baylor University and a Senior Fellow at Indiana University Bloomington's Center for the Study of the Middle East. He holds a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies and Religion. His research focuses on Islamic intellectual traditions, Sufism, interreligious understanding, law and ethics, natural law, and Shiism.

Klappentext

What is the place of Sufi and philosophical thought in Shi'ism today?

This book delves into the ongoing debate within the contemporary Shia seminary over the role of Sufi and philosophical thought in interpreting religion. It examines two opposing schools: the Sufi School of Najaf, which harmonizes philosophy, Sufism, and revelation, and the Maktab-i Tafkik (School of Separation), which rejects such integration.
Tracing their historical development from the mid-19th century to the present, the book explores how these schools emerged and spread, analyzing their contrasting approaches to religion.

Beyond historical narrative, it provides an in-depth analysis of the philosophical and theological arguments of each school, highlighting their differing views on the soul, divine revelation, and the interplay of reason and faith.
By examining manuscripts, historical texts, and personal memoirs, the book offers a nuanced perspective on the intellectual currents shaping today's Shia thought, inviting readers to reconsider the relationship between philosophy, Sufism, and Shia theology.

Inhalt

Introduction : A Short Note on Sufism, Arif, and Irfan.
Between Revelation and Reason.
Shi'i-Sufi Intersections: Historical and Doctrinal Studies.
Chapters outline.

Chapter 1: Convergence and Divergence: The Shi'i and Sufi Traditions in Dialogue.
The Interaction Context of Shi'i and Sufi Thought
'Ali b. Mu¯sa¯ ibn Ta¯wu¯s.
Hasan b. Hamza al-Shirazi al-Palasi
Ibn Mimar
Sayyid Haydar Amuli
Mulla Sadra Shirazi
Muhammad Baqir Majlisi
Ibn Taymiyyah on the Hadith of aql (Intellect)
Post-Sadrian Philosophical and Sufi Movements.
Notes on the Revival of the Ni'matullahi Order.
Masum Ali Shah Dakkani and Aqa Muhammad Ali Kirmanshahi
Nur Ali Shah Isfahani
Bahr al-'Ulum and his Risalah fi al-Sir wa-l-Suluk.
Mulla Abd al-Samad Hamadani and The Question of the Origin of the Sufi School in the Shi'i Seminary.
The Post-Sadra Dhahabiyya Sufi Order and Shi?i-Sufi Convergence
The Kubrawiyya order, Kubra, and Ismaili Qasri
Revival of the Dhahabiyya Order in Iran After the Safavid Era.
Nayrizi and Bidabadi
Sadr al-Din Kashif al-Dizfuli

Chapter 2: The Philosophical and Mystical Edifice: Tracing the Legacy of the Sufi School of Najaf
Shi'i Seminary (al-Hawzat al-iilmiyya)
A critical perspective.
Negation of Affiliation to Sufism
Sayyid Kashif Dizfuli, Sayyid Ali Shushtari and Shaykh Murtada al-Ansari
Mulla Quli Jula.
Sayyid Ali Shushtari
Mulla Husaynquli Shavandi Hamadani
Sayyidd Ahmad Karbala'i
Sufi and Philosophical Correspondence on the Concept of Tawhid (Divine Unity)
Shaykh Muhammad Bahari
Between Bahari's Tadhkirat al-Muttaqin and Shi'i
Sayyid Ali Aqa Qadi Tabataba i
Initiation to the Dhahabi Order
Sayyid Ali Qadi and His Approach to Sufism.
The Sufi School of Najaf and the Naqshbandi Risala-yi Nur-i Wahdat
Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i

Chapter 3: The Maktab-i Tafkik (School of Separation): Isfahani's Opposition to Sufism and Philosophy in Shii Thought
Exploring Tafkik: Isfahani's Role in Shaping Anti-philosophical Discourse.
Beginning of an Opposition: A Transformative Dream.
Isfahani's Return to Iran and His Intellectual Shift
Prominent Disciples and the Development of the School
The Concept and Doctrine of Tafkik.
Isfahani's Critique of Philosophy and Sufism.
The Dichotomy of Knowledge in Isfahani's Thought
Rejecting Philosophical Reasoning: Isfahani and Ahsa'i on the Incompatibility of Divine and Human Knowledge.
Isfahani's Views in the Context of His Time.
From Isfahani to Hakimi: Shifts and Continuities in Tafkik's Approach to Philosophy.
Tafkik's Perspective on Divine Versus Human Theology.
Critique of Mulla Sadra and Transcendent Philosophy.
A short note on the Hujjatiyah Society.
The Sufi School of Najaf and Its Intellectual Engagement with Tafkik.
Ashtiyani's Critique of Tafkik and Philosophical Discourse.
Navigating Mysticism and Philosophy: Sayyid Muhammad Hossein Hosseini Tihrani's Insights.
Contemporary Debates in Islamic Thought: Reason, Revelation, and Sufism.
Conclusion.

Chapter 4: The Soul: A Ground for Disagreement
From Vegetative to Rational: Ibn Sina's Conceptualization of the Soul Across Life Forms.
Redefining the Soul: Mulla Sadra's Exploration of Immateriality and Existence.
Divergent Perspectives on the Soul: Isfahani
Darkness and Obscureness of the Soul
Transcending Realms: Self-Knowledge in the Sufi School of Najaf
Tabatabai's Discourse on the Soul: Bridging Self-Knowledge and Divine Unity.
Tabatabai's Qur'anic Vision: Interpreting Self and Community in Islam.
Tabatabai's Perspective on Self-Knowledge as the Path to Divine Unity.
Tabataba'i on Soul in Practical Sufism (Irfan Amali)
The Soul's Consciousness and Self-Knowledge.
Conclusion: The Soul's Path Through Islamic Philosophy and Sufism.

Chapter 5: Beyond Wilayat al-Faqih: Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i on Authority and Practical Wisdom.
From Mulla Sadra to Wilayat al-Faqih?
Wilayat al-Faqih: Fiqh or Philosophy?
Tabataba'i Practical Wisdom and Political Philosophy.
Between "Real" and "Secondary Intellectual Consideration"
The Principle of Employment and Human Society.
Leadership and Innate Human Nature (Fitrah)
Algar's Analysis: Comparing Khomeini and Tabatabai's Perspectives on Governance.
Governance: Emphasizing Collective Responsibility and Accountability.
Collective Responsibility: Maintain With Justice.
Conclusion.

Conclusion: Synthesizing Traditions
Shi'i Intellectualism: Conflict and Transformation.
Bibliography