“The historical evolution of positions in mystical wayfaring in mystics’ works with emphasis on al- loma and al-Ta’arrof”

Maghams and Ahvals (mystical positions and states) in mysticism have been studied and analyzed by scholars. Meanwhile Maghams and Ahvals exist in all of the mystics’ books and works but there are many different viewpoints about the quantity of Maghams and Ahvals among them. This thesis attempts to study the history of evolution and the formation, the definition and explanation of the important terms and expressions of the content. Islamic mysticism consists of two pillars: monotheism and its believer. According to Islamic mysticism, the creation has been set in the Arc of Descent and Ascent and access to the reality of monotheism and its believer is attained by achieving Maghams and Ahvals. It is obvious that the Maghams and Ahvals in Islamic mysticism are evolved and developed gradually and during the ages just like other sciences, so it is very important to study it step by step, especially two important books in this field: “al- loma fi Tasavvof “and “al –Ta’arrof”. In spite of rather identical view about the terms in Islamic mysticism and the expression and concepts in the writer of these two books, it seems that it is not possible to reach to the same Maghams and Ahvals among the Islamic mystics especially the intended two figures in the this thesis. Because it seems, not only there are some differences in Maghams and Ahvals, but also in the quality and the mode and style of beginning and the accomplishing in Soluk (mystical wayfaring). In the thesis, it is attempted to review, study and analyze the conditions of Soluk, Maghams and Ahvals in different centuries in two books: “al-loma fi Tasavvof “and “al -Ta’arrof”.