Anwar-e Ma`rifat

The question of "the forgetting or remembrance of sin" constitutes an interdisciplinary subject that has been addressed not only in religious sources but also in theology (kalām) and practical mysticism (ʿirfān-i ʿamalī). Within practical mysticism, this issue was first raised under the rubric of the reality of repentance (tawba). Some mystics, such as Sahl al-Tustarī, have affirmed the necessity of remembering sin, whereas others, such as Junayd al-Baghdādī, have held to its forgetting. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the spiritual wayfarer's (sālik) obligation concerning the remembrance or forgetting of past sins on the basis of the principles of practical mysticism. Adopting a library-based method of data collection and drawing upon primary mystical sources, this paper analyzes the various perspectives articulated across the different domains of practical mysticism, including spiritual stations (maqāmāt), the concomitants of spiritual wayfaring (mulāzamāt-i sulūk), and mystical principles (qawāʿid-i ʿirfānī). The findings of the research indicate that in the majority of Islamic spiritual stations-such as vigilance (yaqẓa) and repentance-the emphasis is placed upon the remembrance of sin, whereas in the stations of faith (īmān) and spiritual excellence (iḥsān) -such as invocation (dhikr) and presence (ḥuḍūr)-the emphasis shifts toward forgetting sin. Mystical principles such as "the remembrance of cruelty in times of purity is itself cruelty" (dhikr al-jafāʾ waqt al-ṣafāʾ jafāʾ) likewise predominantly indicate the forgetting of sin in the higher degrees of spiritual wayfaring. Ultimately, the overarching spirit governing spiritual wayfaring-namely, servitude (ʿubūdiyya) -requires that the wayfarer never forget his audacity before God. Nevertheless, it is not necessary for him to remember sins in detail; rather, a general remembrance suffices to maintain humility and supplication for forgiveness.