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Al-Tirmidhi - Two Works On Sainthood

Here's an excerpt from "A Forerunner of Ibn al-'Arabî: Hakîm Tirmidhî on Sainthood" by Bernd Radtke to introduce this book, enjoy: How does one achieve this privileged relationship with God, and in what way does it manifest itself, once it has been acquired? Hakîm Tirmidhî explains this by way of some definitions at the beginning of Sirât al-awliyâ'. He makes a major distinction between two kinds of friends of God. One kind he calls walî Allâh, and the other walî haqq Allâh. While the term walî Allâh presents no particular difficulty - it means simply friend of God - the translation of walî haqq Allâh is more complicated. The complication arises from the exact definition of the term haqq. Haqq means 'right', 'true', 'Truth'. Frequently the term is used of God, who is the Absolute Truth. By the same token, haqq means 'right' in two senses. First, it is the right or the due that someone possesses and which he may claim; so God's claim upon man. Secondly, it is the due that one owes, such as the due that man owes God; this may be called an obligation. Therefore walî haqq Allâh is someone who is close to God on account of the haqq, the oligation, or rather, he is the friend of God because he is willing to fulfil the haqq toward God, namely to live up to his obligation towards God. Yet a better definition is perhaps, a friend of God is he who by fulfilling his obligation achieves a closer relationship with God. The other, walî Allâh, by definition is not subject to the haqq, the obligation or due, in his relationship to God, which seems more immediate and is not weakened by the interposition of the haqq. In order to understand the meaning of the two terms, walî Allâh and walî haqq Allâh, in their entire scope, one must understand that for Hakîm Tirmidhî haqq is a metaphysical, cosmic principle. As one of the fundamental attributes of God, haqq guides all worldly manifes­tations according to the principles of divine law and divine truth. If possible, man must fulfil the conditions of these principles, he must fulfil the claims of the divine law. A walî haqq Allâh is thus close to God in the measure that he lives in harmony with Law. http://www.ibnarabisociety.org/articles/hakimtirmidhi.html http://books.google.com/books?id=AeAG74TdAXEC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

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Samir Abu Samra
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2K views148 pages

Al-Tirmidhi - Two Works On Sainthood

Here's an excerpt from "A Forerunner of Ibn al-'Arabî: Hakîm Tirmidhî on Sainthood" by Bernd Radtke to introduce this book, enjoy: How does one achieve this privileged relationship with God, and in what way does it manifest itself, once it has been acquired? Hakîm Tirmidhî explains this by way of some definitions at the beginning of Sirât al-awliyâ'. He makes a major distinction between two kinds of friends of God. One kind he calls walî Allâh, and the other walî haqq Allâh. While the term walî Allâh presents no particular difficulty - it means simply friend of God - the translation of walî haqq Allâh is more complicated. The complication arises from the exact definition of the term haqq. Haqq means 'right', 'true', 'Truth'. Frequently the term is used of God, who is the Absolute Truth. By the same token, haqq means 'right' in two senses. First, it is the right or the due that someone possesses and which he may claim; so God's claim upon man. Secondly, it is the due that one owes, such as the due that man owes God; this may be called an obligation. Therefore walî haqq Allâh is someone who is close to God on account of the haqq, the oligation, or rather, he is the friend of God because he is willing to fulfil the haqq toward God, namely to live up to his obligation towards God. Yet a better definition is perhaps, a friend of God is he who by fulfilling his obligation achieves a closer relationship with God. The other, walî Allâh, by definition is not subject to the haqq, the obligation or due, in his relationship to God, which seems more immediate and is not weakened by the interposition of the haqq. In order to understand the meaning of the two terms, walî Allâh and walî haqq Allâh, in their entire scope, one must understand that for Hakîm Tirmidhî haqq is a metaphysical, cosmic principle. As one of the fundamental attributes of God, haqq guides all worldly manifes­tations according to the principles of divine law and divine truth. If possible, man must fulfil the conditions of these principles, he must fulfil the claims of the divine law. A walî haqq Allâh is thus close to God in the measure that he lives in harmony with Law. http://www.ibnarabisociety.org/articles/hakimtirmidhi.html http://books.google.com/books?id=AeAG74TdAXEC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Uploaded by

Samir Abu Samra
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Seon ‘3 NANI THE CONCEP OF SAINTHOOD NIA AINA UOT CURZON SUFI SERIES Series Editor Tan Richard Neon Professor of Arabi Studies, ‘University of Leeds “The Curzon Su Series attempts to provide short inioductions to a _varity of fiets ofthe subject, which are accessible both to the general reader and the stident and hola inthe field. Each book wil be either a synthesis of existing knowledge or a distinct contribution to, and ‘extension of, knawedee ofthe partiular topic. The two major underlying Principles ofthe Series are sound scholarship and readability BEYOND FAITH AND INFIDELITY “The Susi Poetry end Teachings of Mahmud Shabistar Leonard Lewisohn ALHALLAL Herbert W. Mason RUZBINAN BAOLI Mysticism and he Rhetoric of Saintood in Persian Sufism Carl W. Ernst ABDULLAH ANSARI OF HERAT ‘An Faly Sufi Master AG. Rovan Farhi PERSIAN SUFI POETRY ‘An introduction wo the Mystical Use of Classical Persian Poctry EP. de Bruin THE CONCEPT OF SAINTHOOD IN EARLY ISLAMIC MYSTICISM Two works by AL-Hakim Al-Tirmidhi ‘An annotated translation with introduction by Bernd Radtke and John O'Kane Fat published in 1996 ty Caron Press| ‘ok Sts Car Ros, Rican ‘Suey, TW320A. (© 1996 Rem Radke and John "Kane Printed in Gest Brin by Bide Line, Gulfod snd King’s Lyn Allsight reer: No par of his bock may be era ‘epoca er tls in any for ory ny dentro, Thechinical, of other meas, now known ohereafer Invented, insuding photocopying and ecordng or in any ‘nformion stage or rereal system, vaout posi in “ein from he pices British ivary Cataloging in Publication Dats ‘A catalogue record for hs bok s avalide fo the Bash Library Lita of Congress Publication Das ‘Acatlog record fr ths book has ben requested ISBN 0-1007- 0452-3 61) ISBN 07007-68132 (PH) CONTENTS: PREFACE ABBREVIATIONS INTRODUCTION, 1. The Life of a-Hakim al-Tismighi 2, Tinihi's Watings 5, Tiamihi's Position in Islamic Intellect 4, Friendship wit God 5. About Both Texts ‘THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE THEOSOPHIST OF ‘TIRMIDE AL-HAKIM AL-TIRMIDHL: THE LIFE OF THE FRIENDS ‘oFGop [Bxcursus: Theory of Knowledge Bxcurss: The Spit) APPENDIX INDICES 1 nds. of Proper Names 2 Index of Arabic and Persian Words 3. Index of Concepts BIBLIOGRAPHY vit 38 ut 213 241 250 258 216

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