"Khutbah al-Bayān" and the Ecstatic Utterances of the Sufis (shaths)

Subject Areas : Christianity

رضا  اسدپور ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2014-10-18 Accepted : 2014-10-18 Published : 2008-03-20

Keywords: Alī, Khutbah al-Bayān, shath, fanā’, Sufism, intoxication (sukr),

Abstract :

"Khutbah al-Bayān" is a sermon ascribed to Imam Alī which consistsof a group of rhythmical sentences which begin with the pronoun "I". Itdescribes Imam Alī as a Perfect Man, who is ready to annihilate in God(fanā’). Since "Khutbah al-Bayān" is similar to the Sufis' ecstaticutterances (shaths), it has been welcomed by the followers of theesoteric sects of Islam, some groups of Shi‘ites and Sufis. On the otherhand, there are some other Muslims, specially the opponents of theSufis, who do not recognize in the originality and authority of thissermon. Therefore, there have been diverse viewpoints about "Khutbahal-Bayān" in the Muslim world.This essay begins with a bibliographical account of the "Khutbahal-Bayān" in accordance with typological divisions; it then, surveys thedifferent versions of the sermon and finally deals with the history of the"Khutbah" and its relation with the shaths. In doing so, this essay triesto explain the multiple meanings of the shaths and observe thebackground of this concept in Sufism. Therefore the viewpoints ofRūzbihān Baqlī other of the exegetes of the "Khutbah" such asMīrsharīf Nuqtawī, Dihdār Shīrāzī, ‘Abd al-Samad Hamadānī, RāzDhahabī and Mīrzā Qumī are mentioned. Finally, this essay comes tothis conclusion that "Khutbah al-Bayān" could be treated as a shath.