A Critique on Malamatiyeh

Malamiyeh or Malamatiyeh is the name of a dervish cult, which emerged in the second half of the third century AH in Neishabour, Great Khorasan region. The method and style of Malamatiyeh is mainly practical not theoretical. The style of Malamatian (dervishes belonging to Malamatiyeh cult) comprised a collection of customs and traditions such as fighting one's carnal desires and undergoing a difficult disciplinary system. Malamati dervishes present their cult through various spiritual experiences and are characterized by incessant struggle against outward teachings of previous ascetic cults. They meant to return to simple asceticism which existed in early years after the advent of Islam. It should be noted that secondary followers of Malamatiyeh cult, distorted the teachings of their forbearers and caused their cult to be associated with such features as carelessness in religious matters, inattention to religious worships, pretension to evil behavior and being known for committing sins. This was what happened to an ascetic cult in ancient Greece which caused people to ignore their lofty teachings and charge them with committing evil acts.