Intoxication or Sobriety? Examining the Most Famous Example in Islamic Mysticism
Amir Yousefi, Ali Ashrafimami
Teosofia: Indonesian Journal of Islamic Mysticism September 30, 2024 DOI: 10.21580/tos.v13i1.21988 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Key points | Argues that Hujwīrī's labeling of Bāyazīd Bisṭāmī as an "intoxicated" Sufi, based largely on ecstatic utterances, is not a reliable criterion, and that the division of Sufis into "intoxicated" and "sober" groups is imprecise. The author contends that Bāyazīd's sayings and practices indicate sobriety, aligning with Ibn 'Arabī's view, and that the term Ṭayfūriyya may be Hujwīrī's own innovation. |
Abstract
The present article examines Bāyazīd Bisṭāmī’s reputation as a mystic of “intoxication” (sukr). The origin and validity of such labels are analyzed by examining their most famous example. It should be noted that for the first time, the author of Kashf al-Maḥjūb labels Bāyazīd as the pioneer of “intoxicated” Ṣūfis. Thus, the main question of this paper is to find out whether Hujwīrī had a correct criterion in his attribution of the ‘Path of Intoxication’ to Bāyazīd or Ibn’ Arabī was right in referring to Bāyazīd’s eminence and fixity (Tamkin). In other words, Hujwīrī introduces Bāyazīd as an intoxicated Ṣūfi, and Ibn’ Arabī calls him as a sober gnostic. To explore our question, we have critically examined Kashf al-Maḥjūb and Hujwīrī’s other reports and have argued that Hujwīrī’s main criterion for attribution of intoxication to Bāyazīd is due to his ecstatic utterances, which is not always an applicable criterion. Moreover, because intoxication and sobriety are not alike and identical, dividing Ṣūfis into two separate sects as ‘intoxicated’ and ‘sober’ is not a precise division. Also, calling a certain sect Ṭayfūriyya can be of Hujwīrī’s own innovation. Then, taking into consideration the words of Ibn’ Arabī about Bāyazīd, we have presented some evidence of Bāyazīd’s sayings and mystical practices to indicate his sobriety.Contribution: This study accurately portrays a renowned Islamic mystic while enhancing the understanding of mystical concepts. It also explores the origins of labeling in Islamic history, illustrating how labels emerge and are subsequently perpetuated by later authors despite inadequate citation or contrary documentation.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |