Foundations and Principles of Ahlul Bayt’s Soluki (spiritual journey) Teachings and their Effect on Sufism (until the Major Occultation)

Due to their full consideration of Soluk and the mood of Salikan (spiritual wayfarers) as well as their divine infallibility, Soluki (spiritual journey of the people of intellect) teachings of Ahlul Bayt are complete, absolute truth and devoid of falsehood; moreover, their instructions are precise, helpful and life-saving. The current dissertation addresses an investigation of the principles of Soluki (spiritual journey) Teachings of Ahlul Bayt while assessing their effect on Sufism. The first briefly explains Soluki (spiritual journey) Teachings of Ahlul Bayt; this section offers an elaboration and explanation of such concepts as the stance of these teachings in the formation of spirituality in the movement of Islam as well as an examination of such features as central province (velâyat e mehwari), Batinism (inwardly oriented) and Sharia orientation in Ahlul Bayt mysticism and some historical issues associated with that. Afterwards,  the principles of Soluki teachings were followed by a discussion of some topics including the necessity of Soluk and its theological, ontological, epistemological, anthropological, and teleological fundamentals. The main contributions of this section include the undeniable necessity of Soluk in Ahlul Bayt teachings, belief in hidden and longitudinal aspects of religion, longitudinal order of existence, importance of the truths received by the infallibles, inward orders and layers of the soul, ultimate end of Soulk and examination of some ultimate ends of Soluk. Afterwards, following as assessment of the principles of Soluki teachings of Ahlul Bayt, issues such as asceticism and piety, austerity and its foundations, the stance of prayers, ignorance and other pests of Soluk, general and specific master of Soluk, as well as ranks of Seyr o Soluk as the central issues associated with Soluk were presented. An assessment of the effect of Soluki (spiritual journey) Teachings of Ahlul Bayt on Sufism which was performed through evaluating such important concepts as Sufi grounds influenced by Ahlul Bayt, content-based effects of Ahlul Bayt teachings on Sufism as well as pathological and corrective effects of Ahlul Bayt on asceticism and spirituality and Sufism.