The Rational Bases of Practical Mysticism from the Perspective of Allamah Tabatabai

Practical mysticism or the mystic journey is the base and foundation of mysticism because theoretical mysticism is in fact the reflection of practical mysticism and is the expression and interpretation of the discoveries of one's journey and intuition. Practical mysticism – in which various levels and stations are passed through to achieve perfection and become close and united with God – has rational bases, based on Islam's teachings, which are extracted and explained by Allamah Tabatabai. These bases, elaborated in his book "Al-Velayah", are discussed in this article and are as follows: the possibility of reaching to Malakoot (the Dominion of God), intuitional knowledge of the soul, tendency to saintship and being religious on the base of religion's apparent meaning and hidden meaning.