Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Wisdom, Faculty of Islamic Sciences and Research, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran
Abstract
The "Pure Life" (*Hayat-e Tayyibah*) is a divine gift and the fruit of faith and righteous deeds. According to traditions and scriptural commentaries, it manifests through moral virtues and spiritual conduct—such as obedience to God, contentment, acceptance of the Divine decree, independence from all but the Almighty, entrusting one’s affairs to God, and earning a lawful livelihood—and, notably, through aiding others and fulfilling their needs. Muslim mystics—such as Ma‘ruf al-Karkhi—are distinguished by their embodiment of these moral and spiritual virtues and their attainment of this Pure Life. Muslim mystics—foremost among them Ma‘ruf al-Karkhi—are distinguished by their embodiment of moral and spiritual virtues and perfections, and consequently, they enjoy a "wholesome life". A reflection on the works, spiritual states, and sayings of Ma‘ruf al-Karkhi reveals a lifestyle rooted in faith and a profound emphasis on spiritual and ethical teachings. He laid particular stress on asceticism, spiritual discipline, worship, guarding against excessive worldly hopes, concealing one’s deeds and spiritual states, intense awe of the Divine, remembrance of death, detachment from worldly attachments, and—above all—truthfulness and sincerity; at the same time, he was deeply committed to caring for the well-being of others and striving to meet their needs. In this article, employing an analytical approach and drawing upon a thorough review of source materials to examine the life and recorded teachings of Ma‘ruf Karkhi, we have concluded that his mystical way of life reflects a truly faithful existence.
Keywords
Subjects