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SUNY Series in Islam
Kernel of the Kernel: Concerning the Wayfaring and Spiritual Journey of the People of Intellect
A Shīʻī approach to Sufism from the teachings of Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāṭabāʼī. Compiled, edited, and expanded by Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ḥusaynī Tihrānī. Translated [from the Persian] by Mohammad Hassan Faghfoory. Foreword by Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
Kernel of the Kernel is an authoritative work on Sufism from a Shī'ī perspective that is not only fascinating, but also contains much practical advice. In addition to providing a theoretical discussion of spiritual wayfaring, it is also the account of a personal fifty-year spiritual journey by Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāṭabāʼī, a renowned Iranian-Shī'ī scholar and spiritual master. In Kernel of the Kernel, Ṭabāṭabāʼī discusses the doctrinal foundations of spiritual wayfaring as well as processes and stages that an aspiring wayfarer must go through in order to attain spiritual realization. He discusses the relation between the exoteric and esoteric aspects of Islam and clearly demonstrates that these inward and outward dimensions of Islam complement each other. The book also provides information on the Qur'ānic origins of Sufism and its special relations with Shī'īsm as well as the role of Shī'ī Imams in the spiritual realization of a sincere wayfarer.
“Aside from its historical and theological background, the Lubb al-Lubab or Kernel of the Kernel stands by itself as a masterpiece in the field of spirituality and gnosis. While naturally couched in the language and terminology of the Qur'ān and Hādīth, it conveys a message of universal order meant for all human beings.” — from the Foreword by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāṭabāʼī (1901–1982) was a prominent Muslim scholar who taught Islamic philosophy, jurisprudence, ethics, and gnosis in the seminaries of Qum, Iran. He is celebrated for the example of his spiritual life and for his spiritual writings. Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ḥusaynī Tihrānī (1925–1995) was one of Ṭabāṭabāʼī's most brilliant students. A teacher, eloquent speaker, and prolific writer, his most important works include comprehensive studies on the nature of God, the lives and spiritual status of Shī'ī Imams, and eschatology. Formerly a Professor at the University of Tehran, Mohammad Hassan Faghfoory is affiliated with George Washington University and the Institute of Isma'īlī Studies in London.
Kernel of the Kernel is an authoritative work on Sufism from a Shī'ī perspective that is not only fascinating, but also contains much practical advice. In addition to providing a theoretical discussion of spiritual wayfaring, it is also the account of a personal fifty-year spiritual journey by Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāṭabāʼī, a renowned Iranian-Shī'ī scholar and spiritual master. In Kernel of the Kernel, Ṭabāṭabāʼī discusses the doctrinal foundations of spiritual wayfaring as well as processes and stages that an aspiring wayfarer must go through in order to attain spiritual realization. He discusses the relation between the exoteric and esoteric aspects of Islam and clearly demonstrates that these inward and outward dimensions of Islam complement each other. The book also provides information on the Qur'ānic origins of Sufism and its special relations with Shī'īsm as well as the role of Shī'ī Imams in the spiritual realization of a sincere wayfarer.
“Aside from its historical and theological background, the Lubb al-Lubab or Kernel of the Kernel stands by itself as a masterpiece in the field of spirituality and gnosis. While naturally couched in the language and terminology of the Qur'ān and Hādīth, it conveys a message of universal order meant for all human beings.” — from the Foreword by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāṭabāʼī (1901–1982) was a prominent Muslim scholar who taught Islamic philosophy, jurisprudence, ethics, and gnosis in the seminaries of Qum, Iran. He is celebrated for the example of his spiritual life and for his spiritual writings. Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ḥusaynī Tihrānī (1925–1995) was one of Ṭabāṭabāʼī's most brilliant students. A teacher, eloquent speaker, and prolific writer, his most important works include comprehensive studies on the nature of God, the lives and spiritual status of Shī'ī Imams, and eschatology. Formerly a Professor at the University of Tehran, Mohammad Hassan Faghfoory is affiliated with George Washington University and the Institute of Isma'īlī Studies in London.
183 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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About the author
Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai
135 books175 followersAl-ʿAllāmah Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāṭabāʾī was one of the most prominent thinkers of philosophy and contemporary Shia Islam, influencing the fathers of the 1979 Islamic Revolution such as Motahhari and Beheshti. He is famous for Tafsir al-Mizan, a twenty-seven-volume work of Quranic exegesis, which he worked on from 1954 until 1972. He studied gnosis, mathematics, jurisprudence and Ali ibn Sina's "Book of Healing" at Najaf, Iraq.
سید محمدحسین طباطبایی (زاده ۱۲۸۱ تبریز - درگذشته ۲۴ آبان ۱۳۶۰ قم) معروف‌به علامه طباطبایی روحانی، عارف، فیلسوف و نویسنده ایرانی بود. وی از مجتهدان شیعه و از برترین مدرسان حوزه علمیه قم به شمار می‌آمد، که از شاگردان وی می‌توان به مرتضی مطهری، عبدالله جوادی آملی، محمدتقی مصباح یزدی، حسن حسن زاده آملی، سید محمد بهشتی، سیدعلی خامنه‌ای، سید جلال الدین آشتیانی، هادی خسروشاهی، مرتضی تهرانی، محمد مفتح، احمد احمدی، علی قدوسی، محمدرضا مهدوی کنی، غلامحسین ابراهیمی دینانی، علی احمدی میانجی، سید عزالدین حسینی زنجانی، محمد محمدی گیلانی، سید موسی صدر، سید محمد علی قاضی طباطبایی،علی سعادت پرور و جعفر سبحانی اشاره کرد.
تفسیر المیزان، نهایةالحکمة، رسالة الولایه، شیعه در اسلام، حاشیه بر اسفار صدرالدین شیرازی و اصول فلسفه و روش رئالیسم بخشی از مهمترین آثار اوست.
سید محمدحسین طباطبایی (زاده ۱۲۸۱ تبریز - درگذشته ۲۴ آبان ۱۳۶۰ قم) معروف‌به علامه طباطبایی روحانی، عارف، فیلسوف و نویسنده ایرانی بود. وی از مجتهدان شیعه و از برترین مدرسان حوزه علمیه قم به شمار می‌آمد، که از شاگردان وی می‌توان به مرتضی مطهری، عبدالله جوادی آملی، محمدتقی مصباح یزدی، حسن حسن زاده آملی، سید محمد بهشتی، سیدعلی خامنه‌ای، سید جلال الدین آشتیانی، هادی خسروشاهی، مرتضی تهرانی، محمد مفتح، احمد احمدی، علی قدوسی، محمدرضا مهدوی کنی، غلامحسین ابراهیمی دینانی، علی احمدی میانجی، سید عزالدین حسینی زنجانی، محمد محمدی گیلانی، سید موسی صدر، سید محمد علی قاضی طباطبایی،علی سعادت پرور و جعفر سبحانی اشاره کرد.
تفسیر المیزان، نهایةالحکمة، رسالة الولایه، شیعه در اسلام، حاشیه بر اسفار صدرالدین شیرازی و اصول فلسفه و روش رئالیسم بخشی از مهمترین آثار اوست.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 10, 2015
This is a comprehensive book explaining various aspects of Islamic mysticism in a short and understandable manner. The frequent references to Quranic verses, hadith, and poetry made the read very enjoyable.
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June 8, 2022I first read this during a course on Sufism taught by Dr. Faghfoory, the translator. I recommend it to someone with a decent intellectual grounding in Islamic religion, including Sufism. I think that the Shiite-inflected content of the work makes is unique but also challenging for someone who is not moderately read in the field.
One note: there are some typographical errors in the text, including incorrectly numbered Quranic citations and a couple of instances in which passages presented in-text in Farsi or Arabic are incomplete (though their translations into English appear complete). A casual reader would not notice these oversights. However, upon this rereading I wanted to refer to the complete Quranic verses for more context, and the incorrect citations kept me going back to searchable Arabic editions of The Final Call.
I think a work like this is primed for such oversights in editing, given its provenance (seemingly transcribed lecture notes) and the number of pairs of hands that worked on it. A determined researcher will not be deterred by minor editing foibles (though will surely notice them).
One note: there are some typographical errors in the text, including incorrectly numbered Quranic citations and a couple of instances in which passages presented in-text in Farsi or Arabic are incomplete (though their translations into English appear complete). A casual reader would not notice these oversights. However, upon this rereading I wanted to refer to the complete Quranic verses for more context, and the incorrect citations kept me going back to searchable Arabic editions of The Final Call.
I think a work like this is primed for such oversights in editing, given its provenance (seemingly transcribed lecture notes) and the number of pairs of hands that worked on it. A determined researcher will not be deterred by minor editing foibles (though will surely notice them).
October 5, 2021
أصل هذه الرسالة هي أوّل دورة من الدروس الاخلاقيّة والعرفانيّة للعلاّمة المفسّر العارف السيد محمد حسين الطباطبائي، وقد حرّرها السيد محمد حسين الطهراني كتقريرات لدروسه، مع تنقيحات وإضافات لسماحته.
يتعرض الكتاب إلى كيفيّة السير والسلوك إلى الله بشكل إجمالي‌ّ، وتفصيلي، وشرح تفصيلي‌ّ للعوالم الأثنا عشر المقدّمة على عالم الخلوص، وطرح مباحث من قبيل الشروط اللازمة للسلوك، مراتب المراقبة، لزوم الاُستاذ، والطرق المختلفة لنفي الخواطر؛ وذلك بأُسلوبٍ جامع.
*رأيي في الكتاب:*
رسالة جميلة في السير والسلوك إلى الله، تنير الطريق لطالبي الحق، والسالكين إلى الله.
🌠 *اقتباس*
🔸إذا توسل الإنسان بصدق في مسألة الهداية واستعان بربه، سوف يعينه ويساعده جزمًا
يتعرض الكتاب إلى كيفيّة السير والسلوك إلى الله بشكل إجمالي‌ّ، وتفصيلي، وشرح تفصيلي‌ّ للعوالم الأثنا عشر المقدّمة على عالم الخلوص، وطرح مباحث من قبيل الشروط اللازمة للسلوك، مراتب المراقبة، لزوم الاُستاذ، والطرق المختلفة لنفي الخواطر؛ وذلك بأُسلوبٍ جامع.
*رأيي في الكتاب:*
رسالة جميلة في السير والسلوك إلى الله، تنير الطريق لطالبي الحق، والسالكين إلى الله.
🌠 *اقتباس*
🔸إذا توسل الإنسان بصدق في مسألة الهداية واستعان بربه، سوف يعينه ويساعده جزمًا
January 20, 2016
I can only assume that this book has a high review because it's written by a known religious scholar and not due to its content. The content consists mostly of unsupported opinions and unjustified conjectures. If an unknown author had written this book, people would either not read it or would be much more critical of it.
I do not recommend this book to analytical readers or anyone who demands propositions to be sufficiently justified.
I do not recommend this book to analytical readers or anyone who demands propositions to be sufficiently justified.
February 4, 2017
This book provides supportive and descriptive definitions of mystic terminology and concepts through the use of Qur'anic verses, narrations, and deductive logic. It is not intended to chronicle the history or development of the stages discussed. It was from the experiential viewpoint of the author that the work was produced, including a lineal trace to the earlier teachers.
August 30, 2022
Compelling
July 26, 2014
"ما تريد؟"
"اريد ان لا اريد."
"اريد ان لا اريد."
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews