The Nature and Types of Incoming Thoughts and its Recognition Criteria

Recognition of incoming thoughts and its denial is one of the most basic elements of behavior in Islamic mysticism and one of the tools of self-knowledge. Controlling the faculty of fantasy and imagination and conquering the heart is among the results of recognition of incoming thoughts. In this assumption, no unreasonable thoughts enter the heart, and hence man achieves heart confidence. Without this, the seeker will not succeed, because the denial of incoming thoughts is necessary at least for the presence of the heart in worship, especially prayer. Incoming thoughts is a part of the induction of the heart, which inadvertently enters the heart and appear as addresses. According to the esoteric degrees of man and his conduct, the incoming thoughts are issued from four sources, and the soul comprehends them with the appropriate means. Using a descriptive-analytical method, this paper studies the divisions of this thoughts, which most of the divisions are as follows celestial, terrestrial, sensual and devilish.