The Relationship between Sufi Beliefs and Extremist Thought of Iran from the Third to the Ninth Centuries

In many works and writings of Muslim and non-Muslim writers and historians written about the history of religions and denominations in Iran, unfortunately, all extremist thoughts and doctrines and beliefs were introduced and presented as those of the Shiite religion in Iran, and these man-made extremists sects and phenomena were imposed on Shiite doctrines and Imami teachings.

While referring to the earlier historical and hadith documents, the influence of the thoughts of the Ghalis (exaggerationists) and Sufis on the religions and cultures of other nations and their effects on each other can be clearly seen, and it can be observed that this gradual deviation of these two extremist thoughts is nothing but a deviation from moderation and from the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt.

These thoughts and teachings are the work of an extremist and hypocritical group that has continued the same path and method of Abdullah Saba and Hasan Basri, following their leaders blindly, shutting their eyes and hearts to the pure Muhammadan Islam.

In this dissertation, we try to examine the backgrounds and causes of the emergence of these two thoughts while trying to explain and trace back the beliefs of Sufis and Ghalis in Iran. We analyze and study these thoughts to make the beliefs and teachings of these two extremist ideas more obvious as well as to repel the false accusations against Shi’ism. It is hoped that the truth-seeker, by reading this dissertation, will separate the extremist sects from the Imamiyya Shi’a; because the doctrine of the Imams of the Infallibles is a doctrine that is free from any extremism and exaggeration.

The method of research and collection of materials in this dissertation is based on library resources. Efforts have been made to write and present the topics of this dissertation in an analytical-descriptive manner.