The System of Mystical Conduct in the Teachings of Imam Ali (a)

Educating human beings and developing its existence are the goals of the creation and the mission of all prophets. In order to reach this goal, the teachings of the Qur’an and the tradition are the most efficient methods for a mystical conduct (sulūk). The teachings of Ahl al-Bayt (a) and specially Imam Ali (a) are full of the most pure mystical (sulūki) messages and teachings; yet it is rarely introduced as a system. The main question is whether it is possible to introduce a systematic practical teaching based on the teachings of Imam Ali (a) in a form of a comprehensive epistemic system that is in harmony with logical structure. The present research tries to provide the system of Imam Ali’s (a) mystical conduct by referring to his sayings, using a network of general and comprehensive concepts and themes, collecting and forming mystical propositions derived from his teachings, citing explicit narrations, acquiring mystical conduct from implications of his words, and finally applying the ijtihadi (deductive) method. The findings of the research shows that 1) “being servant (to God)”, “self-purification”, “knowledge”, “love”, “nearness to God”, and “visiting God” (heavenly meeting) are respectively the most important goals of mystical conduct and 2) the most important pillars of this system are monotheism, shari’a (law), rationalism, patterns, wilaya and the hereafter. So if a mystic 3) uses some methods such as “mystical reflections”, “kindness and love”, and “mystical austerity” which are inferable from Imam Ali’s (a) teachings, and 4) after passing through the internal obstacles such as “ignorance”, “negligence”, “inclinations toward evil”, “sin”, “innovation”, “duplicity”, “conceit”, “arrogance”, “envy, and external obstacles such as “Satan”, “world” and “wrong comrades” they will have 5) final spiritual positions such as “certainty”, “reliance”, “satisfaction”, ” entrust”, “surrender” and “unity”.