Ahl al-Haqq: Difference between revisions

'''Ahl al-Ḥaqq''' (Arabic: {{ia|أهل الحق}}) refers to followers of a religious-mystical Tariqa (path of spiritual learning) with its particular religious etiquettes and texts who consider themselves as [[Shi'as]], although some of their beliefs are inconsistent with [[Islam]]. The sect, which is popular among Kurdish, Luri, and Turkish people in [[Iran]], grew within an Islamic context. It is similar to [[Ghali]] (exaggerating) sects of Shiism because it exaggerates about [[Imam 'Ali (a)]]. However, its origins can be traced back to some beliefs, old intellectual traditions, and the folk culture of people of western Iran as well as Persian beliefs before the emergence of Islam.

They believe in a kind of [[Tanasukh|reincarnation]] and hold that God is incarnated in human beings. They take [['Ali (a)]] to be the manifestation of the Divine Essence, and [[Muhammad (s)]] to be the manifestation of Divine Attributes. Their holy place is [[Pardiwar]] which they believe to be equivalent to the [[Ka'ba]]. Their rulings and etiquettes include allegiance and setting up fire over a dead person’s grave on the first night after his or her death. Their four ethical principles are purity, righteousness, nothingness, and rida (generosity and tolerance).

Rural purity and simplicity are obviously reflected in sacred poems of Ahl al-Haqq. The notions figuring in their poems reveal that the ritual was formed and developed in communities of farmers and ranchers, but their etiquettes and views are not restricted to these people today and are not limited to the above places. As "[[Khaksariyya]]" essays imply, Iranian Khaksariyya follow Ahl al-Haqq in some of their beliefs, terminologies, and practices, and they have thus propagated the views of Ahl al-Haqq in many parts of Iran.

Ahl al-Haqq believe in [[Twelver Shiism]] and their [[Twelve Imams]]. They believe in all past religions and in particular, [[Islam]], but they believe that the core of all those religions is reflected in their religion. As Qushchi Ughli has claimed: "God has revealed 4 books, all 4 of which are with us". He also said: "Furqan is the truth and not a lie", but by "Furqan" they mean something other than what is standardly meant.

There is another account of the process of the genesis of the world which corresponds to the talk of the "Period of the 40 People". "Heavenly Tablets" have a particular place in Ahl al-Haqq's cosmology. They usually refer to 7 such tablets. Ahl al-Haqq maintain that the forms of the universe are portrayed in the "Agate Tablet" (al-Lawh al-'Aqiq) which is located on top of the second heaven (or sky). For example, residents of the [[Heaven]] and the [[Hell]] are in the sky and celestial spheres. Moreover, Heavens and Hells are owned by 8 people (Sultan Ishaq and 7 others). In other words, Heavens and Hells are their kingdoms.

Jayhunabadi divides the motion of the world and its residents into 3 stages:

Like [[Twelver Shi'as]], the Yarsan believe that in the End Time, people around the globe will avenge for [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]]’s blood. According to Ahl al-Haqq, before the End Time, there will be big wars in the world which they refer as the "Stormy World".

They are considered as eternal essences which are thought to have been the first creatures which emanated from the divine essence and manifested in the form of human beings. These 28 people are taken to be superior to all other creatures. They are symbols of the 28 letters (of Arabic Alphabet) and the 28 letters express the whole being. After the 7 commanders, or in a lower stage than that of the 28 people, there are 40 people who are taken to be 40 "forty-people" because each of them is considered as equivalent to 40 people.

The chain of manifestation does not end here, however. According to "Shahnama haqiqat", [[Mansur al-Hallaj]] was the manifestation of Dawud (from Haftan), and according to "Bargah Bargah", Hallaj is the same person as Dawud. According to verses 5028 to 5096 of "Shahnama haqiqat", [[Shmas Tabrizi]] was a reincarnation of Hallaj, but Ahl al-Haqq interestingly believe that Shams was born in the womb of [[Rumi]]’s virgin daughter, and then returned to Rumi who turned into his pure follower. According to the verse 5018 of "Shahnama haqiqat", Rumi was the manifestation of [[Muhammad (s)]].

===Shaving the Moustache===

It is forbidden, and indeed a [[major sin]], for Ahl al-Haqq to shave their moustaches. The prohibition has been emphasized by Sultan Ishaq. Qalandar, a senior figure of the Yarsan, takes moustache to be a sign of Ahl al-Haqq. Since moustache is considered as sacred, its detached hair should be kept in a safe place.

In 1984, Dr. Bahram Ilahi, the son and the successor of Nur 'Ali Ilahi, who now lives in France, obliged his kin to shave their moustaches and declare themselves as [[Twelver Shi'as]].

Another ceremony which is held in Jam is to fulfil one’s [[nadhr|vow]]. There are 6 types of vows among Ahl al-Haqq. [[Repentance]] should, in their view, be accompanied by endowing a "Niyaz" (literally: need) to Jam in order for Jam to forgive the sin. The Niyaz is also called "Sabz Kardan" (literally: to make green) which has a specific time. Calendar times are in the names of Sultan Ishaq, Haftanan, Qultasiyan, and others.

Another ritual of Ahl al-Haqq is their specific fasting which is different from the [[fasting]] performed by other [[Muslims]]. In fact, it is forbidden for Ahl al-Haqq to fast in the [[Ramadan]] month. Qirmizi or Shah Ways Quli forbade the one-month fasting for Ahl al-Haqq, announcing that if a member of Ahl al-Haqq fasts for one month they will be excommunicated. On the contrary, every individual from the Yarsan has to practice the fasting of the cave for 3 consecutive days. It is practiced on the 12th day of a lunar month coincided with the Kurdish 40th day of winter. After 3 days of fasting, the 15th day of the lunar month is celebrated as "Eid Khudawandigari" (the celebration of divinity). The fasting is done as a reminder of the days spent by Sultan Ishaq and his companions in the cave.

The Yarsan ethics is based on 4 main maxims attributed to Sultan Ishaq: purity, righteousness, nothingness, and "Rida" (generosity or tolerance). They are called "Arkan" (tenets) or "Charrukn" (the four tenets):

In addition to the Four Tenets, the school of Haqq has emphasized on other moral values as well. For example, the Yarsan "Kalam" points to the obligation of keeping the secrets of the ritual of Haqq from others and concealing its wisdom. They forbid doing any harms to creatures of God, since Ahl al-Haqq "should not suffer and should not cause suffer". "Dawra 'Abidin" and other books have emphasized on farming and agriculture. They do not believe in "Chillinishini" (a 40-day isolation). In fact, they regard it as a sin. Another moral requirement of Ahl al-Haqq is contentment with what one possesses. They say that one should not have an eye on, or encroach, other people’s possessions.

Although all Ahl al-Haqq comprise a unified group, they are divided into some families who differ over some beliefs or some practices. Some people have talked about 11 or 14 families, but it is widely believed that there are 12 such families. They are assimilated to the 12 constellations, 12 stars of the sky, 12 disciples of [[Jesus]], as well as the [[Twelve Imams]]. However, there is a disagreement about whether the main families formed in the period of Ishaq and at his command are 7. The other families were later added.