Anwar-e Ma`rifat

In both Judaism and Islam, belief in reliance on God (tawakkul) is considered a prominent ethical value. Khwājah ‘Abdullāh Anṣārī (d. 481 AH), a Muslim mystic, in his book Manāzil al-Sā’irīn, and Baḥyā ibn Paqūda, his Jewish contemporary mystic, in his book Al-Hidāyah ilā Farā’iḍ al-Qulūb, have addressed this concept as one of the stages of the spiritual journey. The findings of this research, conducted using library resources and a descriptive-analytical method, indicate that while these two mystics agree on the general definition of tawakkul, they hold different views regarding its position, explanation, and classification. For Khwājah ‘Abdullāh, tawakkul is the twenty-seventh station (manzil) of the spiritual journey, whereas Ibn Baqūda considers it the fourth chapter of the ten chapters concerning divine love. Relying on religious sources and narrations, Khwājah ‘Abdullāh regards the three levels of tawakkul as difficult for the general populace and easy for the elect, and identifies its ultimate goal as tawakkul accompanied by divine knowledge. In contrast, Baḥyā, with detailed exposition and influenced by Islamic sources, while emphasizing the use of intellect, scripture, and narrations, likens one who relies on other than God to one who takes a mortgage from another. He considers ignorance of God and His benevolent attributes, His law, mercy, and grace as factors leading to the deviation of an individual's tawakkul.