Abul-\assan KharaÎānī and ‘Javānmardī

Subject Areas : The Journal of Islamic History and Civilisation

پروانه عروج نیا ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2013-01-16 Accepted : 2013-02-23 Published : 2013-02-19

Keywords: KharaÎāni, Tasawwuf, #Ayyārī, Javānmardī / Futowwa,

Abstract :

#Ayyārī is a very old Persian cult that closely linked to the middle classpeople in Iran. Some of the #ayyārān, under the impact of ascetics(zāhidān) from various sects and religions, including Islam, developed#ayyāri into javānmardī (or futowwa). Afterward, there was a mutualimpact between Sufism which spread in Iran in 4th and 5th AH andJavānmardi. Sheikh Abul-Hassan Kharaqāni, who apparently wasclose to javānmardi, became familiar with Tasawwuf, and later on, hewas considered as a member of Sufi orders by Sufi authorities. In thepresent article, after a brief introductory description of javānmardi,Kharaqāni's sayings in the works attributed to him is studied as well asthe reports of Sufi sources about him. Then the relationship betweenKharaqāni and javānmardi is discussed along with a debate aboutwhat he understands from javanmardi. Finally, the article tries toconclude whether Kharaqāni should be seen as a religious mysticamong javānmardān or as a mystic among Sufis.