The Concept of Perfect Man from the viewpoint of Azīz ibn Muhammad Nasafī

Subject Areas : Christianity

کیومرث چراغی ¹ (ندارد)

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

Keywords: Islamic mysticism, Perfect Man, free Perfect Man, Azīz ibn&#x0D, &#x0D, Muhammad Nasafī, inclusiveness of human being, Microcosm, Macrocosm,

Abstract :

"Perfect Man" is a significant term in Islamic mysticism which wasused for the first time by Muhī al-Dīn ibn al-Arabī, a prominentMuslim mystic of 13th century C.E. After ibn al-Arabī, this concept wasreceived and developed by his disciples and the followers of hismystical school. Nasafī, in his works, focuses on this concept and in itsexposition, he considers two degrees or two variants for the PerfectMen in the hierarchy of human perfection: Perfect Men and free PerfectMen. For Nasafī Perfect Man is one who perfectly possesses these fourqualities: good speech, good deed, good moral and good cognition.Therefore a Perfect Man should be perfect in Islamic law (sharī‘ah),mystical path (tarīqah) and the truth (haqīqah). The free Perfect Man isa higher degree than the Perfect Man. He should possess eight qualities:good speech, good deed, good moral, good cognition, voluntaryabstinence (tark), living in seclusion (‘uzlah), contentment (qinā‘t) andinactivity (khumūl). This essay tries to survey the significant concept of"Perfect Man" from the viewpoint of Azīz Nasafī, a mystic who mostlyhas been ignored in the scholastic studies.