Matin Research Journal

Matin Research Journal

Criteria for Measuring "Mystical Perceptions" in the Mystical System of Imam Khomeini

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Asghar Norouzi 1
Elias Najjari 2
1 Assistant Professor, Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute, Qom, Iran.
2 PhD (Islamic Mysticism and Thought of Imam Khomeini), University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran.
10.22034/matin.2022.339726.2040
Abstract
Assessing the truth and falsehood of propositions presented in any science and providing criteria and standards for measurement is one of the important concerns of scientists in various fields. In the science of mysticism, this concern exists for all mystical propositions, especially intuitive ones. Like other sciences, mysticism needs a standard and law to understand the truth and falsehood of propositions and perceptions based on intuition – which is the most important source of knowing the truths of the universe after revelation – so that the mystic can, with these standards and criteria, determine the certainty of his revelations, observations, and visions. Since every non-infallible human is prone to error in knowledge, mystics have provided criteria and standards such as conformity with the Qur'an and Hadith to validate mystical propositions and the reality of their experiences and to distinguish divine inspirations from satanic ones. In this research, using a descriptive-analytical method and library tools, the criteria for the truth and falsehood of mystical perceptions from Imam Khomeini's perspective will be extracted and examined. He mentioned four criteria for distinguishing the perceptions of non-infallible humans: 1. The Greater Criterion (the Qur'an); 2. The Lesser Criterion (the Infallibles (AS)); 3. The Mystic Himself; 4. The Perfect Guide.

Keywords
Imam Khomeini
Mystical Perceptions
Revelation and Intuition
Mystical Propositions
Criterion of Measurement

Subjects

 

 

-Ardabili, S. A. (1990). Lectures on philosophy. Institute for Compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini's works. [In Persian]
- Amoli, S. H. (1989). Jami’ al-Asrar wa Manba’ al-Anwar. Tehran: Scientific and Cultural Publications Center affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education, First Edition. [In Arabic]
 - Ashtiyani, S. J. (1991). Commentary on Qaysari’s Introduction to Fusus al-Hikam. Tehran: Amir Kabir Publishing, Third Edition. [In Persian]
- Baqli Shirazi, R. (2002). Risalah Ghalatat al-Salikin (Risalat al-Quds). Edited and Reviewed by Javad Nurbakhsh, Tehran: Yalda Qalam Publishing, Unspecified. [In Persian]
- Eftekhar, M., Zamani, M., Alam al-Hoda, S. A. & Azdar, A.R. (2011). Criteria for the Validity of Mystical Visions. A Journal of Islamic Mysticism, 3(5), 1-30. https://erfanmag.ir/article-1-39-fa.pdf
- Fanari, Sh. M. H. (2010). Misbah al-Uns Bayn al-Ma’qul wa al-Mashhud. Edited and Verified by Asim Ibrahim al-Kayali, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Farghani, S. (2007). Muntaha al-Madarik fi Sharh Ta’iyyah ibn Farid. Edited by Asim Ibrahim al-Kayali al-Hosseini al-Shadhili al-Darqawi, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Ibn Arabi, M.. (n.d.). Al-Futuhat al-Makkiyah (Four Volumes).Beirut: Dar al-Sader, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Ibn Turke, S. A. (1981). Tamhid al-Qawa’id. Edited by Sayyed Jalal al-Din Ashtiyani, Tehran: Ministry of Culture and Higher Education, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Imani Moghadam, M. (2010). The recognition Criteria of Mystical Evidence. Theological- Doctrianal Research (The islamic science quarterly), 5(19), 7-40. SID.https://sid.ir/paper/167630/en
- Javadi Amoli, A. (1993). Epistemology in the Quran. Qom: Raja Cultural Publishing Center, Second Edition. [In Persian]
- Javadi Amoli, A. (2005). Interpretation of Man to Man. Qom: Asra Publishing Center, First Edition. [In Persian]
- Kalabadi, A. (1933). Al-Ta’aruf li-Madhhab al-Tasawwuf. Cairo: Matba’at al-Sa’ada, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Kashani, A. R.  (2007). Lata’if al-A’lam fi Isharat Ahl al-Ilham. Edited by Ahmad Abdul Rahim al-Sa’ih , Tawfiq Ali Wahbah & Amir al-Najjar, Cairo: Maktabat al-Thaqafah al-Diniyah, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Kashani, A. R. (2006). Sharh Manazil al-Sa'irin. Edited by Mohsen Bidarfar, Qom: Bidar Publications, Third Edition. [In Arabic]
- Kashani, A. R. (2007). Istilahat al-Sufiyyah. Asim Ibrahim al-Kayali al-Hosseini al-Shadhili al-Darqawi, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Khomeini, S. R. (2001). Description of Forty hadiths. Tehran: Institute for Compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini's works. [In Persian]
- Khomeini, S. R.  (2013). Interpretation of Sureh al-Hamad. Tehran: Institute for Compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini's works. [In Persian]
- Khomeini, S. R.  (2015). Commentaries on the Explanation of Fusous Al-Hikam and Misbah Al-Ans.. Tehran: Tehran: Institute for Compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini's works. [In Arabic]
- Khomeini, S. R. (1996). Description of the Dawn Prayer. Qom: Institute for the Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works, First Edition. [In Persian]
- Khomeini, S. R. (1999). Etiquette of Prayer. Tehran: Institute for Compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini's works. [In Persian]
- Khomeini, S. R. (2003). Explanation of the Hadith of the Soldiers of Wisdom and Ignorance. Tehran: Institute for Compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini's works. [In Persian]
- Khomeini, S. R. (2004). The secret of prayer (Mi'raj al-Salekin and Salat al-Arefin). Tehran: Institute for Compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini's works. [In Arabic] 
- Khomeini, S. R. (2010). Collection of Imam works. Tehran: Institute for Compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini's works. [In Persian]
-Movahedeian Attar, A. (2009). The Concept of Mysticism. Qom: University of Religions and Denominations Press. [In Persian]
-Najm Razi, A. (1933). Mirsad al-Ibad min al-mabdaʼ ilā al-maʻād. Tehran:Majlis printing house. [In Persian]
- Qaysari, D. (1996). Sharh Fusous al-Hikam (al-Qaysari). Edited by Seyyed Jalal al-Din Ashtiyani, Tehran: Scientific and Cultural Publishing Company, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Qunawi, S.  (1971). Al-Nafahat al-Ilahiyyah. Edited by Ahmad Farid al-Mazidi, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah. [In Arabic]
- Qunawi, S. (2002). I’jaz al-Bayan fi Tafseer Umm al-Quran. Edited by Seyyed Jalal al-Din Ashtiani, Qom: Islamic Propagation Office Publications. [In Arabic]
- Qushayri, A. A. (1973). Al-Muqaddimat min Kitab Nas al-Nusus. Tehran: Iranology Section, Iran and France Institute for Scientific Research in Iran, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Qushayri, A. A. (1995). Al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah. Edited by Abdul-Halim Mahmoud & Mahmoud ibn Sharif, Qom: Bidar Publications, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Sharif Fakhr, F. (2015). The Path toward Episteme (Imam Khomeini’s Mystical Viewpoints on Right Episteme). Matin Research Journal, 17(66), 93-111.  https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.24236462.1394.17.66.5.7
-Shirvani, A. (2003). Religious Experience in Imam Khomeini's Viewpoint. Matin Research Journal, 5(18), 111-157.  https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.24236462.1382.5.18.7.9
- Tabatabai, F. (2008). A Goblet from a Thousand (A Journey in the Mysticism of Imam Khomeini). Tehran: Institute for the Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works, Third Edition. [In Persian]