انوار معرفت

The issue of "forgetting or remembering sins" is an interdisciplinary topic that has been raised in theology and practical mysticism in addition to religious sources. In practical mysticism, this issue was raised for the first time under the truth of repentance; some mystics, such as Sahl Testari, believe in the necessity of remembering sins, while others, such as Junaid Baghdadi, believe in forgetting them. The aim of the present study is to explain the behavioral duty of the seeker towards remembering or forgetting past sins based on the principles of practical mysticism. This article was compiled using a library method and, using first-hand mystical sources, analyzed the views presented in various chapters of practical mysticism (positions, attendant aspects of behavior, and mystical rules). The findings of the study show that in Islamic positions (such as yaqza and repentance), the emphasis is on remembering sins, and in positions of faith and charity (such as dhikr and huzoor), the emphasis is on forgetting sins. Mystical rules such as "dhikr al-jifa waqt al-safā al-jifa" also mainly indicate forgetting sins in higher levels of behavior. Finally, the spirit that governs the path, namely "servitude," requires the seeker to never forget his trust in God, although it is not necessary to remember sins in detail; rather, a brief reminder is sufficient to maintain humility and seek forgiveness.