انوار معرفت

The mystical experience is a fundamental cornerstone in both theoretical and practical mysticism. This research analyzes the intellectual framework of Allameh Tehrani concerning the nature, levels, facilitating factors, and obstacles of the mystical experience, as well as the distinction between authentic and inauthentic mysticism. The primary problem is the explication of the mystical experience within his thought and the interpretation of mystical wayfaring based on Quranic teachings and narrations. The objective is to extract the epistemological and ontological foundations of his mysticism and to elucidate the role of Wilayah (Divine guardianship), Shari'ah (Sacred Law), and the spiritual master in authenticating this experience. The research method is descriptive-analytical, relying on documentation and content analysis of his primary works. The necessity of the study arises from the need to revisit the authentic Islamic mystical tradition in the face of contemporary pseudo-mystical tendencies.The findings indicate that, from Allameh Tehrani's perspective, the mystical experience is not a solitary event but a gradual process realized through five levels of unveiling (mukāshafah): material, imaginal, intellectual, spiritual, and essential, extending from spiritual attraction (jazbah) to subsistence through God (baqā’ bi-Allāh). This journey only gains authenticity within the framework of the Shari'ah, under the guidance of a perfect spiritual master (al-ustādh al-kāmil), and through the guardianship of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). The main criteria for distinguishing true from false mysticism are: God-centeredness (tawḥīd-centricity), adherence to the Shari'ah, and following the Wilayah. The pitfalls of the path are identified as attachment to charismatic gifts (karāmāt), self-conceit, and the disclosure of spiritual secrets.The study's innovation lies in presenting the most systematic reconstruction of the levels and stations of the mystical experience within Allameh Tehrani's thought and in extracting a model for assessing the authenticity of mystical experiences based on divine and epistemological criteria.