The Discrepancy of the Interpretive Approach in Sufism and Ismailiya

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Persian Iiterature,University of Isfahan

2 Faculy Member of Payame Noor University

Abstract

Sufis and Ismailians are two social upheavals which share a common feature in
thought that is interpretive attitude and profound inward understanding . Considering
the interpretations of these two groups one can find discrepancies in both arenas of
theory and practice.in theory, the fundamentals of thought of Ismailiya are based on
rational understanding whereas the perspicacity of sufis and mystics is based on
conceptual understanding. More over, ismailians believe that their interpretations are
based on imam s teaching while sufis interpretations are based on personal experience
and immediate underatanding. In practice, Sufism view towards the world is based on
heart and conceptual attitude. So it seems that their interpretations are in a state of flux,
because heart experiences different states. Ismailiya, though, does not look at the
cosmos, as sufis do, in a way which gives a narrow interpretation to its states. Besides,
ismailiya interprets the text with its own specific presuppositions. So their
interpretations approach hermeneutics while Sufism does not involve its personal
interests in the process of interpretation but waits for the time. On the one hand.
Sufism interpretations are based on linguistic understanding. On the other hand, as
ismailiya looks at text employinghermeneutics, its interpretation is not linguistics.

Keywords