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Al‐Junayd on Unification and Its Stages: A Critical Examination
Author(s) -
C. Inati Shams,
Omran Elsayed M. H.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
digest of middle east studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.225
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 1949-3606
pISSN - 1060-4367
DOI - 10.1111/j.1949-3606.1994.tb01025.x
Subject(s) - unification , conformity , introspection , soul , subject (documents) , sobriety , state (computer science) , order (exchange) , epistemology , philosophy , psychology , social psychology , computer science , psychotherapist , algorithm , finance , library science , programming language , economics
The purpose of this paper is to present a critical examination of al‐Junayd's notion of unification ( tawhid ). 1 Al‐Junayd is without doubt one of the most prominent Sufi leaders of the tenth century A.D. who left their mark on the Sufi traditions. He is remembered especially for his strong advocacy of strict adherence by Sufis to the Quar'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet. His Sufi views called for thorough introspection, purification of one's heart and soul, and conformity to the highest morals. To acquire a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of tawhid , however, some other related Junaydian notions need to be presented where appropriate. The following issues will be discussed in this order: human beings' relationship to God, fana' 2 (perishing), unification and its stages, sahw 3 (sobriety), and, finally, whether the state of unification is reached by an act of free will and whether this state is purely subjective, i.e., not subject to public demonstration.