Listen and read

Step into an infinite world of stories

  • Read and listen as much as you want
  • Over 950 000 titles
  • Exclusive titles + Storytel Originals
  • Easy to cancel anytime
Try now
image.devices-Singapore 2x
Cover for Mysticism in Iran: The Safavid Roots of a Modern Concept

Mysticism in Iran: The Safavid Roots of a Modern Concept

1 Ratings

5

Series

1 of 18

Language
English
Format
Category

Religion & Spirituality

An original study of the transformation of Safavid Persia from a majority Sunni country to a Twelver Shi'i realm

"Mysticism" in Iran is an in-depth analysis of significant transformations in the religious landscape of Safavid Iran that led to the marginalization of Sufism and the eventual emergence of 'irfan as an alternative Shi'i model of spirituality.

Ata Anzali draws on a treasure-trove of manuscripts from Iranian archives to offer an original study of the transformation of Safavid Persia from a majority Sunni country to a Twelver Shi'i realm. The work straddles social and intellectual history, beginning with an examination of late Safavid social and religious contexts in which Twelver religious scholars launched a successful campaign against Sufism with the tacit approval of the court. This led to the social, political, and economic marginalization of Sufism, which was stigmatized as an illegitimate mode of piety rooted in a Sunni past.

Anzali directs the reader's attention to creative and successful attempts by other members of the ulama to incorporate the Sufi tradition into the new Twelver milieu. He argues that the category of 'irfan, or "mysticism," was invented at the end of the Safavid period by mystically minded scholars such as Shah Muhammad Darabi and Qutb al-Din Nayrizi in reference to this domesticated form of Sufism. Key aspects of Sufi thought and practice were revisited in the new environment, which Anzali demonstrates by examining the evolving role of the spiritual master. This traditional Sufi function was reimagined by Shi'i intellectuals to incorporate the guidance of the infallible imams and their deputies, the ulama.

Anzali goes on to address the institutionalization of 'irfan in Shi'i madrasas and the role played by prominent religious scholars of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in this regard. The book closes with a chapter devoted to fascinating changes in the thought and practice of 'irfan in the twentieth century during the transformative processes of modernity. Focusing on the little-studied figure of Kayvan Qazvini and his writings, Anzali explains how 'irfan was embraced as a rational, science-friendly, nonsectarian, and anticlerical concept by secular Iranian intellectuals.

© 2017 University of South Carolina Press (Ebook): 9781611178081

Release date

Ebook: 28 September 2017

Others also enjoyed ...

  1. The Odes of Solomon
    The Odes of Solomon Unknown
  2. Caliphate Redefined: The Mystical Turn in Ottoman Political Thought
    Caliphate Redefined: The Mystical Turn in Ottoman Political Thought Hüseyin Yılmaz
  3. Coping with Defeat: Sunni Islam, Roman Catholicism, and the Modern State
    Coping with Defeat: Sunni Islam, Roman Catholicism, and the Modern State Jonathan Laurence
  4. Essays and Reviews: 1959–2002
    Essays and Reviews: 1959–2002 Bernard Williams
  5. Remarkable: The Diversely United, Blood-Bought Church of Jesus Christ
    Remarkable: The Diversely United, Blood-Bought Church of Jesus Christ Christopher N. Beard
  6. Ideas of Liberty in Early Modern Europe: From Machiavelli to Milton
    Ideas of Liberty in Early Modern Europe: From Machiavelli to Milton Hilary Gatti
  7. KNOW ABOUT "MAHATMA GANDHI": Freedom through Non-Violence and Inspired for Global Change.
    KNOW ABOUT "MAHATMA GANDHI": Freedom through Non-Violence and Inspired for Global Change. Saurabh Singh Chauhan
  8. The Apocryphal Psalms of Solomon
    The Apocryphal Psalms of Solomon Anonymous
  9. Liberty's Lions: The Catholic Revolutionaries Who Established America
    Liberty's Lions: The Catholic Revolutionaries Who Established America Dan LeRoy
  10. Gleanings from Paul
    Gleanings from Paul Arthur W. Pink
  11. Urban Economics: Understanding City Growth and Economic Development
    Urban Economics: Understanding City Growth and Economic Development Lyric Vale
  12. The End of the Modern World: With Power and Responsibility
    The End of the Modern World: With Power and Responsibility Romano Guardini
  13. A God Named Josh: Uncovering the Human Life of Jesus Christ
    A God Named Josh: Uncovering the Human Life of Jesus Christ Jared Brock
  14. The Time, Dimensions, and Quantum Mechanical Bundle
    The Time, Dimensions, and Quantum Mechanical Bundle Martin K. Ettington
  15. Light of the World
    Light of the World Amy-Jill Levine
  16. Vedic Hymns
    Vedic Hymns Anonymous
  17. The Great Controversy
    The Great Controversy Ellen G. White
  18. Biography of God
    Biography of God Skip Heitzig
  19. Unfamiliar Tunes: Plays by Anton Chekhov
    Unfamiliar Tunes: Plays by Anton Chekhov Anton Chekhov
  20. Wisdom from Babylon: Leadership for the Church in a Secular Age
    Wisdom from Babylon: Leadership for the Church in a Secular Age Gordon T. Smith
  21. Christian Political Ethics
    Christian Political Ethics
  22. Christology in Mark's Gospel: Four Views
    Christology in Mark's Gospel: Four Views Adam Winn
  23. Escape From Reason
    Escape From Reason Francis A. Schaeffer
  24. The Vision of Aridaeus
    The Vision of Aridaeus G.R.S. Mead
  25. Thomas Jefferson: Family Secrets
    Thomas Jefferson: Family Secrets William G. Hyland
  26. Mary's Voice in the Gospel According to John: A New Translation with Commentary
    Mary's Voice in the Gospel According to John: A New Translation with Commentary Michael Pakaluk
  27. Joshua: An Expositional Commentary
    Joshua: An Expositional Commentary James Montgomery Boice
  28. The Ancient Egyptian Metaphysical Architecture
    The Ancient Egyptian Metaphysical Architecture Moustafa Gadalla
  29. Romans: An Expositional Commentary, Vol. 1: Justification by Faith (Romans 1–4)
    Romans: An Expositional Commentary, Vol. 1: Justification by Faith (Romans 1–4) James Montgomery Boice
  30. The Art of War: The Timeless Guide to Strategy, Leadership, and Victory - A Modern Translation - Adapted for the Contemporary Reader
    The Art of War: The Timeless Guide to Strategy, Leadership, and Victory - A Modern Translation - Adapted for the Contemporary Reader Sun Tzu
  31. The Collected Works of Spinoza, Volumes I and II: One-Volume Digital Edition
    The Collected Works of Spinoza, Volumes I and II: One-Volume Digital Edition Benedictus de Spinoza
  32. The Monroe Doctrine
    The Monroe Doctrine James Monroe
  33. Beautiful Imperialist: China Perceives America, 1972-1990
    Beautiful Imperialist: China Perceives America, 1972-1990 David Shambaugh
  34. Moral Tradition and Individuality
    Moral Tradition and Individuality John Kekes
  35. KNOW ABOUT "ZOROASTER": The Founder of Zoroastrianism.
    KNOW ABOUT "ZOROASTER": The Founder of Zoroastrianism. Saurabh Singh Chauhan
  36. Genesis: An Expositional Commentary, Vol. 2: Genesis 12–36
    Genesis: An Expositional Commentary, Vol. 2: Genesis 12–36 James Montgomery Boice
  37. The Old Testament in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic
    The Old Testament in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic Christopher JH Wright
  38. Evolution and Ethics
    Evolution and Ethics Thomas Henry Huxley
  39. The Hieroglyphic Monad
    The Hieroglyphic Monad John Dee
  40. My Childhood, Autobiography Part I
    My Childhood, Autobiography Part I Maxim Gorky
  41. The Black Monk and Other Stories
    The Black Monk and Other Stories Anton Chekhov
  42. Law and Liberty
    Law and Liberty R. J. Rushdoony
  43. Hopeful Parenting: Encouragement for Raising Kids Who Love God
    Hopeful Parenting: Encouragement for Raising Kids Who Love God David Jeremiah

Features:

  • Over 950 000 titles

  • Kids Mode (child safe environment)

  • Download books for offline access

  • Cancel anytime

Most popular

Unlimited

For those who want to listen and read without limits.

S$12.98 /month
3 days for free
  • 1 account

  • Unlimited Access

  • Unlimited listening

  • Cancel anytime

Try now

Unlimited Bi-yearly

For those who want to listen and read without limits.

S$69 /6 months
14 days for free
Save 11%
  • 1 account

  • Unlimited Access

  • Unlimited listening

  • Cancel anytime

Try now

Unlimited Yearly

For those who want to listen and read without limits.

S$119 /year
14 days for free
Save 24%
  • 1 account

  • Unlimited Access

  • Unlimited listening

  • Cancel anytime

Try now

Family

For those who want to share stories with family and friends.

From S$14.90/month
  • 2-3 accounts

  • Unlimited Access

  • Unlimited listening

  • Cancel anytime

2 accounts

S$14.90 /month
Try now