10 de julho de 2008

Mestres Sufis


(Whirling Derivishes (detail), by Jean-Leon Gerome [19th c.] Public Domain Image)
A ler: “Studies in Islamic Mysticism” by Reynold A. Nicholson (1921)



Excerto, referindo-se ao pensamento de Abu Sa'id (nasc. 967, morte 1049):

“Of all non-Islamic religious communities he holds that the Christians are nearest to God, for while they worship Him in Jesus, Mary, and the Holy Ghost, they assert the indivisibility of the Divine nature and that God is prior to His existence in the created body of Christ. Thus they recognise the two complementary sides of true belief concerning God, namely that from the one point of view (tanzíh) He is above all likeness and that from the other (tashbíh) He reveals Himself in the forms of His creatures. But, in addition to the grave error of anthropomorphism (tajsím), they are at fault in restricting the Divine self-manifestation to these three. God said, "I breathed My Spirit into Adam," and here the name "Adam" signifies every human individual. The contemplation of those who behold God in Man is the most perfect in the world. Something of this vision the Christians possess, and their doctrine about Jesus will lead them at last, "when the Thing shall be discovered as it really is ," to the knowledge that mankind are like mirrors set face to face, each of which contains what is in all; and so they will behold God in themselves and declare Him to be absolutely One.” Capt II, parte VII, pps 139-140