Journal Of Islamic Denominations

Journal Of Islamic Denominations

A Retrospective and In-Depth Inquiry into Six Questions Regarding Khorasan Mysticism

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Assistant professor, School of Humanities, Damghan University,Damghan,Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Kashan University, Kashan, Iran
10.22034/jid.2025.538283.2592
Abstract
The profound and remarkable school of "Khorasan" mysticism and its notable, noteworthy tradition has, over the course of many centuries, been home to great mystics and produced valuable works in Sufism and `Irfān (gnosis; mysticism). It can be regarded as one of the three great spiritual centers of the world, alongside the Ka'aba (Baytullāh al-Ḥarām) and al-Quds (Bayt al-Maqdis). Furthermore, this region has a brilliant cultural, philosophical, and mystical history and has been a gathering place for followers of various religions and denominations throughout history. This spiritual and sacred land, long a cradle of Sufism from which prominent and famous figures have emerged, is the origin of the initial ideas of Iranian Sufism, and the first masters of mysticism arose from this area. This paper, by referring to the important spiritual, historical, and cultural dimensions of the land of Khorasan, first defines mysticism from the perspective of Khorasani mystics. It then explains the characteristics of the Khorasani mystical school and the differences in the [Sufi/mystic] path (Ṭarīqat) of its mystics, providing a critical assessment of the concepts of "Sukr (intoxication), Ṣaḥw (sobriety), Malāmat (blame), and Fotowwat (spiritual chivalry)" in Khorasan mysticism. Finally, the historical and spiritual evolution of Sufism and mysticism in Khorasan (from ascetic mysticism to pure Sufism) is examined.
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