Anwar-e Ma`rifat

Abstract In his two books, The Smashing of the Idols of Ignorance and the treatise Three Principles, Ṣadr al-Muta’allihīn addressed the social crisis of "Sacred Ignorance" that had taken shape in his society and sought to bring about a social revolution and transformation by shattering the idols of ignorance. In this social transformation, for society to be placed on the path of social justice and to achieve the virtuous society, it is essential that the primary mission of philosophy and wisdom—the establishment of justice and the negation of oppression and tyranny—be carried out. This requires the recognition of true guides (the mystic and the sage) in society. In the absence of such guides, numerous power groups in the guise of Sufis and mystics have led to the prevalence of religious literalism and the undermining of religion. Given the importance of this issue, this article employs qualitative thematic analysis to investigate this matter in the two treatises of Ṣadr al-Muta’allihīn. The analysis of basic and organizing themes reveals eight overarching themes—knowledge-oriented, refined, mindful of God, concealed, death-contemplative, practicing disassociation and allegiance, striving guide, and effusive—as characteristics of true guides in a crisis-ridden society. Considering that the crisis of ignorance will lead to great tribulations in Islamic society, Ṣadr al-Muta’allihīn presents the characteristics of true guides as a solution for confronting this literalist interpretation of religion.