Taḥbīb theory as neoplatonic emanationism? al-Jīlānī’s thought from riwāyah, dirāyah and riʿāyah perspectives

Jamil, Khairil Husaini and Kozhithodi, Salahudheen (2019) Taḥbīb theory as neoplatonic emanationism? al-Jīlānī’s thought from riwāyah, dirāyah and riʿāyah perspectives. In: 2019 Annual Conference of the British Association for Islamic Studies (BRAIS 2019), 15th-16th April 2019, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlāni, a 12th CE ḥanbalī mystic, argues repeatedly in his works, Futūḥ al-Ghayb and al-Fatḥ al-Rabbānī which are known for allegorical interpretation of prophetic ḥadīths, that a sufi may enjoy certain worldly pleasures after struggling through various stages of asceticism (zuhd). Ultimately, God will make him long for some worldly comforts according to His will – an act known as taḥbīb. al-Jīlānī substantiates this tahbīb theory with the famous ḥadīth which reads: “Two things of your world that were made lovely to me; the perfume and the women, and I found the coolness of my eyes in the prayer.” Unlike other exegetes of ḥadīth, al-Jīlānī focuses on the first word of the ḥadīth, ḥubbiba, which indicates that a person is made to love a certain subject. This somehow relates to emanation of love that comes for the Absolute or the Godhead. A similar notion of taḥbīb could be learned in later sufi works, though with different labels, such as al-Suhrawardī’s concept or ‘intihā’, which legitimises the apparently luxurious life style at a higher station of mysticism. The notion has also been observed in the Akbarian scheme of mysticism, attributed to al-Shaykh al-Akbar Ibn al-ʿArabī. Some have argued that elements from this sufistic notions are influenced by the neoplatonic emanationism. This may be concocted through the application of argumentum ex silentio in analysing al-Jīlānī’s deliberation. However, a counter argument could also be traditionally learned from the ḥadīth interpretive tradition. This article attempts to explore these issues within the context of al-Jīlānī’s works and to briefly highlight the possible connections between several areas of knowledge and philosophical endeavours within the relevant literatures.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Plenary Papers)
Additional Information:	6337/72152
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Hadith, Sufism, al-Jilani, Neoplatonism, Asceticism
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP100 Sacred books > BP135 Hadith literature. Traditions. Sunna B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP160 General works on Islam B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP500 Theosophy K Law > KBP Islamic Law > KBP1 Islamic law.Shariah.Fiqh > KBP100 Sources.Quran, Hadith, Ijma', Qiyas.
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Qur’an and Sunnah
Depositing User:	Dr. Khairil Husaini Bin Jamil
Date Deposited:	16 May 2019 08:34
Last Modified:	16 May 2019 08:41
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/72152

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