The Study of Ascetic Texts and the Relationship between Sufi Sheikhs and Imam Kazem (PBUH)

Although the ground of development of mystic paths in the world of Islam has initiated from the 4th and the 5th centuries and the first type of these paths refers back the 7th century. Majority of these paths attribute their dynasty to Shiite Imams, particularly from Imam Reza (PBUH) to Amir al-Mo’menin (PBUH), to Mohammad prophet. Now this question is raised in regard with the kind of picture at hand from Imams and particularly from Imam Kazem (PBUH) in asceticism and Islamic mysticism having led to their acceptance as one of the most significant element of mystic dynasties. In some sources, it has been claimed that some earlier Sufi sheikhs have been in contact with Imam Kazem (PBUH). The present article initially introduces the ascetic books and afterward, it investigates the amount of rightfulness and accuracy of narrations concerning the relationship of Sufi sheikhs with that Holiness. It has merely concluded that in asceticism and mystic books, it has been briefly stated from Amir al-Mo’menin to Imam Sadeq (PBUT) while there is no report about the other Imams especially Imam Kazim (PBUH). Second, it considers quite provable the meeting of one of Sufi sheikhs named ‘Shaqiq Balkhi’ with Imam Kazem (PBUH); nevertheless, this very meeting has not been mentioned in any mystic texts, so it has not been effective in the history of mysticism and development of mystic paths. Consequently, appreciating the mode and cause of the entrance of the names of Imams to the mystic dynasties referring to asceticism and Sufi texts could not be effectual and the other reasons would be required.