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Questions Archive(Thematic Category:Islamic gnosis: Irfan)

What is meant by line, dot etc. in mysticism (irfan) and what does the narration “I am the dot under the “ba” signify”?

5226 2017/01/21 Theoretical

In mysticism numbers letters shapes etc. are language codes signifying certain occult realities of the world. The dot signifies the real unity of God whose image is placed in man s heart mind and it i
Why do jurisprudents and theologians oppose the notion of wahdat al-wujud?

13265 2012/12/23 Theoretical

1. The notion of wahdat al-wujud [ Unity of Being ] is a monistic understanding of tawheed, the doctrine of oneness of God. It is considered one of the most fundamental concepts in mysticism and in my
What does annihilation mean? Please explain the concept and station of annihilation.

9018 2012/11/01 Theoretical

Annihilation is defined as total destruction or complete obliteration of an object. It is the opposite of permanence, subsistence and continuance. To explain further, God is from the category of perma
Why do some people oppose mysticism and the mystics making reference to ahadith (traditions)?

7573 2012/07/14 Theoretical

Irfan ( mysticism/ Gnosticism ) has been defined as a special method to reach the realities of existence and to connect man to truth, which is done through vision and intuition. Such an understanding
Why do some Shiite mystics and scholars renounce the world and divinely gifted halāl pleasures and bounties?

6529 2012/06/28 Practical

The divine bounties and pleasures are not restricted to worldly and material things; rather they also include spiritualities which for many people entail greater pleasures. The mystics and pious ones
How many spheres are there in the entire universe and what is the difference between a sphere and a sky?

12987 2012/06/17 Theoretical

According to an ancient opinion, sphere refers to the ethereal bodies which are made up of nine levels or layers seven of which are named as kawakib sab a ( the seven planets ) . The eighth sphere is
What is the meaning of abjad letters, especially in relation to Imam Ali?

31997 2012/05/21 Theoretical

The abjad letters are the alphabet ( الف ب ت... ) , which have been systemized based on a specific order, meaning: abjad, hūz, ḥatī, kalamn, sa afṣ, qarasht, thakhdh, ḍaẓgh. A number has been assigned
When we say Almighty Allah, does it account for all attributes or only for the power and might of Allah?

6833 2012/05/21 Traditional

At the level of His essence, when we say He is the Almighty, it accounts for all of His attributes. That is, there is no difference which attribute we use to refer to His essence. On the other hand ou
Is seeing God with the heart what is meant by seeing God with discerning insight?

7828 2012/05/21 Practical

Seeing God with our discerning insight, which has been mentioned in Imam Ali s ( A.S. ) words falls under the theological discussion of seeing God. According to the sound assessment regarding this top
Is Lordship confined to God Almighty?

8340 2012/05/21 Theoretical

ربوبیت ( Lordship ) is derived from the word رب ( lord ) and is used in the Arabic language for the words owner, possessor and trainer. Given the fact that God is the owner of all existence, the manag
Can knowledge, power and other qualities God has endowed the prophet and his progeny with limitless in every respect?

5921 2012/04/17 Traditional

If what is meant by infiniteness is that it is not limited by any boundaries, even the boundary of createdness or being created and reliance and need , then it must be said that nothing other than All
What is the meaning of the tradition attributed to Abu Basīr which mentions seeing God before the Day of Judgment?

7190 2012/04/14 Theoretical

There is no way to see God for He is all encompassing and cannot be encompassed. Nonetheless, in a manifestational sense, He can be seen in every single being, as the Quran has mentioned the following
What is Chelleh Neshini (worshipping for a forty day period)? What is the viewpoint of the Shia on this practice?

7985 2011/09/22 Practical

The meaning behind Chelleh Neshini ( worshipping for a forty day period ) in the field of spiritual wayfaring is for one to be cautious in regards to one’s self for a period of forty days. Through t
How can perfection be attained?

6486 2011/08/15 Practical

This topic needs to be discussed in three parts.1. Definition of Kamal ( Perfection ) and How It Differs from Tamam ( Completion ) and ProgressCompletion applies when speaking about the parts of a thi
The Qur`an mentions the fact that there is no fear or sadness for the friends of Allah (Surat Yunus (10), Verse 62). If this is the case, then why do we read the following prayer in the Du’a of Friday (addressing Imam al-Zaman (ع)): “Peace be upon you O Pure one who is afraid!”

9199 2011/08/15 Practical

Fear is of two types: praiseworthy and blameworthy. Blameworthy fear, like fearing for ones’ life or fearing people and creatures is meaningless for the friends of Allah ( awj ) . This is why Imam Ja
What is nearness to Allah (awj)? How many different kinds of nearness are there? How can we gain nearness to Allah (awj)?

8338 2011/08/15 Practical

In lexicographical terms, “qurb” means the nearness of one thing to another. This can be in space or time. Of course in commonplace usage, “qurb” also applies to being the centre of attention and to
Is it possible for one to possess self-awareness in their dreams? How is it that the visions of some dreams present themselves in reality?

9014 2011/06/12 Theoretical

Sleep is a state in which a person gradually disconnects from the material world around them, leaving their inner senses in a heightened state of awareness. During sleep, one’s self disassociates from
What is the purpose of dreaming? Why has Allah granted us dreams?

11226 2011/05/18 Practical

Dreaming is one of the signs of Allah and a window to the unseen, a characteristic and natural trait that Allah has imparted to our bodies and souls.
What does Fana mean in Irfan (Mysticism)?

9103 2011/04/20 Theoretical

Fana’ is an Arabic word and literally means non existence and being annihilated. In the words of the Urafa’, it means for a servant to utterly abide in Allah in a way that the humanistic aspect of the
Who is Abdul Qadir Gilani?

9585 2011/03/14 Theoretical

Abdul Qadir Gilani known as Ghaus-e-Azam was a sixth century mystic and a narrator who was born in the north of Iran and died in Baghdad. He was the figurehead of the Qadiri Sufi order. Historically,
What is Sufism? Was Imam Khomeini (r.a) a Sufi?

13882 2011/01/27 Practical

The lexical root of tasawwuf is variously traced to sūf wool , referring to the simple wool-made cloaks the early Muslim ascetics wore and who claimed to purify their inner self from filth and stay aw
What is the Islamic law concerning eating food with Hindus and eating foodstuffs like crab, different kinds of fish, Indian snack etc.?

20684 2010/11/09 Practical

As per the fatwa of all grand jurists, all non-believers including Hindus are ritually impure. Supreme Leader, grand Ayatollah Khamenei and a few other prominent jurists are of the view that non-Musli
Why does a person let someone-other than Allah- occupy his heart by marriage, while it is only Allah who is worthy of being loved?

7356 2010/09/05 Theoretical

In man s course towards Allah, not only isn t marriage considered an obstacle, but in fact can be a means of help too, meaning that marriage is not in contradiction with the love of Allah. Marriage do
Does man have the capacity to love Allah?

7255 2010/09/05 Practical

The logic behind experiencing ‘metaphoric’ love is to reach true love and if it is accompanied with chastity, after causing fundamental changes and developments it will bring man very close to Godly l
What is meant by “the presence of the heart in prayer (hudhur al-qalb)”? Is thinking about worldly matters that associate with things pertaining to the hereafter in contradiction of the heart being present in prayer?

7712 2010/08/21 Practical

Hudhur al-qalb in prayer means to liberate the heart from everyone except the person you are speaking to, that is in the case of prayer to pay complete attention to it and the words that are being sai
Are there any examples of Irfan in the Nahjul Balagha?

8614 2010/08/17 Theoretical

According to the Imams ( a ) , Irfan is not divided into practical and theoretical. In the language that they used and in their life history, they did not consider practical Irfan any different from t
What does the phrase "المجاز قنطرة الحقیقة" refer to? Please explain Islam’s standpoint on “metaphoric love”.

9147 2010/08/17 Practical

1. Islamic scholars believe that there is no more than one true love in this world and that being the love for God, the other types of love are considered to be metaphoric, unreal and illusory love. M
What is the meaning behind the concept of Wilayah Takwini and what is its connection with the Infallible Imams (a)?

18400 2010/08/14 Theoretical

Wilayah in lexicon means the coming of something right after another without any space existing in between them. This calls for the closeness and nearness of these two to each other. Wilayah has been
When put in the grave what can we do to better our surroundings?

7369 2010/08/14 Traditional

The feelings a person might experience when lying in his grave is completely contingent upon the environment he has arranged and prepared with his deeds and acts in this world, thus this feeling may d
Please explain about the Mysticism of Imam Ali and the Household of the prophet. What does the Nahjul-Balaghah consist of regarding Mysticism and how much have the Imam's sayings had influence on Mystics throughout time?

13073 2010/07/21 Theoretical

The Mysticism or irfan that Imam Ali and the Household of the prophet present does not contradict Islam or the Quran, it is rather the true essence of Islam and the core of Islamic law. From this view
What are the right ways of fulfilling lust in Islam and according to Imam Khomeini?

25935 2010/07/20 Practical

As one who is in pursuit of the truth regarding Islam’s laws and the viewpoints of the late leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, it is of dire importance that you rely only on authentic so
By whom and how can teyyul-ard be achieved?

6510 2010/07/20 Practical

Teyyul-ard denotes the quick transportation from one point to another in an instant. Teyyul-ard is something extraordinary and above normal human power, and is only possible for those who have total c
What is teyyul-ard?

6357 2010/07/20 Theoretical

There are different views on the true essence of teyyul-ard. One would be the theory of “اعدام و ایجاد” or “Existentiation and Elimination” of the renowned mystic, Ibn Arabi. According to this theory,
What does it mean to choose one’s death from the perspective of the Holy Quran and traditions?

12767 2010/05/27 Practical

It is possible to say that the original source of the term ‘death by choice’ or ‘voluntary death’, which is used in Islamic Irfan ( gnosis ) , first came up in this tradition from the Holy Prophet ( s
Please list some of the current arefs.

6860 2010/05/20 Theoretical

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What is the Islamic law about following a Sunni prayer leader?

7334 Laws and Jurisprudence 2010/12/08

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It has been twenty years that we are offering Friday prayers. Some say that since the distance between our Friday prayer and another that has been going on for 30 years is less than required. Please note that there are two routes to our Friday prayer; one is conventionally used ...

6038 Laws and Jurisprudence 2011/06/07

The office of the Grand Ayatullah Khamenei:The required distance between two Friday prayers is one legal farsakh‌ and the criterion isn't a straight line between the two points, rather, it is the conventional route people take to come and go between the two points. [In ...
What is the scope of the mind in Islam and when and where can one use it regarding religious matters?

9306 Modern 2010/01/06

The mind is the most valuable faculty that Allah (swt) has endowed man with and it bears different degrees and classifications.1- Theoretical intellect: Whose job is to know about realities and judge about them.2- Practical intellect: Controlling man’s actions is the responsibility of this subdivision of ...
What are the characteristics of a true qari (one who recites the Quran) according to Imam Sadiq (as)?

16556 Quranic Studies 2008/08/18

Imam Sadiq (as) has stated some traits and characteristics for those who want to be qaris (experts in the field of recitation) of the Holy Quran. Some of these characteristics are as follows: Accepting the wilayah (authority) of the Ahlul-Bayt, reciting its verses correctly, to be influenced by ...
What is the ruling regarding eating harām (forbidden) food?

20765 Laws and Jurisprudence 2010/11/10

One who realizes after eating food that he has eaten a harām meal, in case there was no likelihood of the food being harām and there were signs indicating that it was halal, for example, he had received the food from a Muslim, such a ...
Is it necessary to take part in all the secular school programs?

6275 Laws and Jurisprudence 2011/01/10

Office of Grand Ayatollah Sistani (may Allah grant him long life):Taking part in such activities is a matter of precaution. [That is, you should exercise precaution by not taking part in those programs.]Office of Grand Ayatollah ...
What is Islam’s view on shaking hands with a non-mahram man or woman?

11407 Laws and Jurisprudence 2012/01/19

What is clear and for sure is that one’s encounter with a non-mahram must be in a way that there is no sin or fear of sin involved.[1]As far as physical contact between a non-mahram man and woman and shaking hands goes, ...
Why do Muslims shake hands?

10726 Practical 2009/03/02

Greeting others by saying “salam” and shaking hands are all signs of sociability and good manners and conduct. The prophet of Islam (pbuh) and the imams are at the pinnacle of sociability and good behavior and our role models, therefore we must follow them in this matter.Anas ibn ...
What does Fana mean in Irfan (Mysticism)?

9103 Theoretical 2011/04/20

Fana’ is an Arabic word and literally means non existence and being annihilated. In the words of the Urafa’, it means for a servant to utterly abide in Allah in a way that the humanistic aspect of the servant fades away in the ...
What is Nafaqah?

12771 Laws and Jurisprudence 2012/04/19

‘Nafaqah’ is a jurisprudential term used for women, kin (relatives) and property. It is predominantly used for women/wives and denotes the financial support that is obligatory upon men (when certain conditions are met) to provide for their spouses.[1] The Nafaqah usually covers the wife’s ...

How is Prophet Adam’s (A.S.) creation (about 5,764 years ago) make sense when fossils found from human beings are almost 25 million years old?

148739 Exegesis 2012/01/15

There is no inconsistence between these two. If we have heard that Prophet Adam has been created six to seven thousand years ago, this might refer to a different and new generation of human beings which started with Prophet Adam (A.S.) and might ...
Is lobster, clam, oyster and octopus halal?

108490 Laws and Jurisprudence 2012/02/18

Eating lobster, clam, oyster and octopus is haram. According to religious resources regarding halal and haram meat, there are general rulings and numerous standards; for instance, a set of rulings has been given for land animals, sea creatures, birds and so on.The condition for halal meat sea ...
Why are shrimps halal and crabs haram? What makes one of them halal and the other halal despite the fact that both of them are from the same category?

106122 Philosophy of Religion and Law 2012/03/18

Although all Islamic laws are a result of the benefits or disadvantages and harms that back them, and there is a particular reason behind each and every one of them, discovering the exact reason in detail for every one of them is extremely difficult. The most we ...
What is meant by Sidratul-Muntaha that the Quran has mentioned?

104967 Exegesis 2010/04/07

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Is there any problem in sweeping and cleaning one”s house at night?

102698 Hadith 2015/06/07

1. Having conducted a research into Hadith (scriptural) sources, we found out that the narrations about cleaning, dusting and sweeping a house are absolute and unrestricted in the sense that they include both day and night. There is nothing to indicate that dusting and cleaning are forbidden ...
Can a Sunni girl get married to a Shia man and why? Please list the reasons.

101410 Philosophy of Religion and Law 2009/04/20

The popular viewpoint amongst Shia scholars and jurisprudents is that a Shia man can get married to a Sunni woman, but there is a difference of opinion regarding the marriage of a Sunni man with a Shia woman; most scholars see it as impermissible.The reasons behind the first ...
What is the definition of "Muslim" according to the Quran?

88933 Exegesis 2010/04/06

According to the Quran a Muslim is one who has absolutely surrendered to Allah and his commands and believes in pure Tawhid (the oneness of God) that isn't tainted with any Shirk and this is why the Almighty has introduced Prophet Abraham as a true ...
Why hasn’t Imam Ali (a.s.) been mentioned in the Holy Quran?

87660 Exegesis 2008/05/11

One should be aware that although the imam’s names, )especially Imam Ali’s(, haven’t been mentioned in the Quran, nevertheless, their names, )especially Imam Ali’s(, can be found in the Prophet’s sayings. One very good example is the hadith of Ghadir which is considered the official announcement of the appointment of ...
Why do we the Shia pray at three times while the Quran tells us to pray at five times?

79186 Laws and Jurisprudence 2010/08/14

The reason the Shia perform their prayers in three times is the Quranic verses and traditions on the matter. Although the Quran has mentioned that prayer is wajib several times and hasn’t gone into the details, it has spoken of its times: “Maintain the prayer from the sun's ...
What is the way of preventing Ehtelam (having wet dream) during sleep?

64790 Laws and Jurisprudence 2015/01/05

According to Islamic teachings and experience of others, for decreasing concupiscence and preventing Jinabat, please refer to the following recommendations: 1. Avoid dreaming and try to make yourself busy with good things such as reading books (non-sexual ones), heavy exercise, etc. Moreover, remember that idleness can lead ...

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