Document Type : Research Paper
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Abstract
Many researchers throughout history, especially Sufi Shaykhs have proposed differing definitions for mysticism and Sufism; the first definition is given by Kerkhi (d. 815). Nicolson has provided 78 definitions for the emergence and development of Sufism and these definitions are taken from three books (Tazkerah al-Oliyā, Resāleh Qoshayrieh and Nafahāt al-Ons) and none is comprehensive enough. It seems that the definition offered by Shafi’i Kadkani is more complete. According to his definition, Sufism is the result of an artistic approach to religion. In the present paper, after explicating “artistic approach” and “artistic explanation”, to provide some examples of Kadkani’s definition, we investigate some of the Quranic verses and traditions which are approached artistically in Tamhidāt of ‘Eyn al-Qozāt Hamedāni (d. 1130) in order to find out what ‘Eyn al-Qozāt has done when using Quranic verses and the narrations of the immaculate Imams (PBUT), artistic approach or artistic explanation?
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