Tashayyu from Henry Corbin's Perspective

This paper is a review and critique of Henry Corbin's views on the twelver Shia. Emphasising the similarities between the Shiite faith and the ancient Persia's spirituality, the famous French orientalist and mystic tries to establish a link between Tashayyu' and the spirit of Iran. For him, what establishes the link between the two is the concept of the World of Forms, which is a constitutive concept in both cultures. However, he ignores the fact that the concept was first introduced by Arab mystics, such as Ibn 'Arabi, or Sunni Iranians, such as Sohravardi. Moreover, Corbin's interpretation of the World of Forms among the Shia is incompatible with the basic creeds of the Shia.