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TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION
- State University of New York Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
TRANSLATOR’S INTRODUCTION The text that is presented in the following pages is one of the most important books written on Sufism from an Iranian-Sh¯ı⁄ite point of view in the twentieth century. In a profound yet simple manner, the Lubb al-Lub¯ab dar sayr wa sul¯uk-i ulu‹l-alb¯ab (Kernel of the Kernel Concerning the Wayfaring and Spiritual Journey of the People of Intellect) discusses the stages and processes that an aspiring wayfarer must go through in order to attain spiritual realization. In addition, it illustrates the Qur‹¯anic origins of ⁄irf¯an (gnosis) as well as its relationship with Sh¯ı⁄ism. Finally, the book demonstrates the meaning of the concept of wal¯ayat (Arabic Wal¯ayah) and the role of the Sh¯ı⁄ite Im¯ams in transmitting esoteric knowledge and truths about tawÓh̄ıd (Divine Unity), their part in the Sh¯ı⁄ites’ spiritual life, and the place of the Ahl al-Bayt (Household) of the Blessed Prophet of Islam in the spiritual journey toward God. The Lubb al-Lub¯ab is in fact a product of love and the labor of two scholars. ¯Ayatull¯ah ⁄All¯amah Sayyid Muhammad ÒHusayn ÒTab¯aÓtab¯a‹¯ı was one of the most prominent Iranian ⁄ulam¯a of the twentieth century and a professor of Islamic philosophy, jurisprudence, ethics, and gnosis in the madrasahs or seminaries of Qum for over thirty-seven years. He was an eminent religious scholar, an original thinker, a philosopher, a theosopher, a poet, a prolific writer, a commentator of the Qur‹¯an, and an exalted gnostic of great spiritual realization. His spiritual life as well as his scholarly achievements have been studied extensively in Persian and English in recent years and need no further introduction.1 The Lubb al-Lub¯ab was originally a series of lectures that the ⁄All¯amah delivered to a select group of his students and disciples in Qum between 1368 ../1949 and 1369/1950. ¯Ayatull¯ah Sayyid Muhammad ÒHusayn Tihr¯an¯ı, who was then twenty-five years old and one of ⁄All¯amah ÒTab¯aÓtab¯a‹¯ı’s most brilliant students, took extensive notes while he lectured . A few years before his own death, Tihr¯an¯ı, who had also earned the honorific title of ⁄All¯amah (most learned), compiled, edited, and expanded Faghfoory: Kernel of the Kernel page xxi xxi the series and published it in its present form in Mashhad. The translation presented here is based on the seventh edition of the book that was published in 1417 ../1996 (1375 solar).2 Despite numerous contributions to the field of Islamic studies and considerable recognition and respect in the scholarly community in Qum and Mashhad, ⁄All¯amah Tihr¯an¯ı has remained unknown outside Iran. As yet, no scholarly account of his life and thought has been produced in any language, including Persian. Therefore, it is appropriate to present a short biographical sketch of his life and briefly examine his religious thought and intellectual orientation.¯Ayatull¯ah ⁄All¯amah Tihr¯an¯ı is related to many prominent Sh¯ı⁄¯ı-Iranian ⁄ulam¯a of previous centuries by birth and/or marriage, including such notable scholars as Muhammad B¯aqir Majl̄ıs¯ı, ¯Ayatull¯ahs M¯ırz¯a Muhammad Tihr¯an¯ı, the author of Mustadrik al-BiÓh¯ar, Muhammad ÓSaliÓh Kh¯at¯un¯ab¯ad¯ı, and Sayyid Mahd¯ı BaÓhr al-⁄Ul¯um. According to available biographical information, ⁄All¯amah Tihr¯an¯ı was born in Tehran in 1345 ../1925 (1303 solar) and passed away in Mashhad in 1416 ../1995 (1374 solar). His grandfather, ¯Ayatull¯ah ÒH¯ajj Sayyid Ibr¯ahim had studied in Najaf with ¯Ayatull¯ah M¯ırz¯a ÒHassan Sh¯ır¯az¯ı (among the ⁄ulam¯a known as M¯ırz¯a-yi awwal/first M¯ırz¯a, d. 1312/1894). The ⁄All¯amah’s father, ¯Ayatull¯ah Sayyid Muhammad ÓS¯adiq, was a student of M¯ırz¯a Muhammad Taq¯ı Sh¯ır¯az¯ı (known as M¯ırz¯a-yi duwwum/second M¯ırz¯a, d. 1339/1920). After completing his education in Samarra, Muhammad ÓS¯adiq returned to Iran and settled in Tehran. Little is written about Muhammad ÓS¯adiq’s life and career during the reign of RiÓd¯a Sh¯ah (1925–1941). There is much evidence, however, which points to his active involvement in open oppositional activity against RiÓd¯a Sh¯ah’s government . Several observers, including ⁄All¯amah Tihr¯an¯ı himself, testify that like many other members of the...