Dhul-Nun al-Misri and the Teachings of Shī ite Imāms

Dhul-Nun al-Misriwas a famous Sufi and a survey on the roots of his thoughts can help us to know the productive and directive factors of Sufism. This article, with a descriptive-analytic method, focuses on the relationship between Dhul-Nun al-Misri and Shī’ite Imāms (pbuth), and promotion of their doctrines by him. Some of the prominent masters of Dhul-Nun were connected with Imām Sādiq (pbuh). The Shī’ite narrators have quoted some Hadīths from Dhul-Nun. There are similarities between some of his thoughts and Shī’ite teachings narrated by Imām Alī, Imām Hussayn, Imām Sajjād, Imām Sādiq, Imām Rizā and Imām Hasan ‘Askarī (pbuth). Some Shiite scholars have also cited from Dhul-Nun. He spent a part of his life in Sāmirrā’ and his meetings with Shī’ite Imāms were possible. He used the teachings of Shī’ism and promoted some of Shī'ite doctrines which were important references for later Sufis.