Is Shaykhism Shi`ism with a Sufi twist?

Nader coined an interesting concept about Shaykhism (see post #3 )

In essence Shaykhism is Shi`ism with a Sufi twist.

Also, I have been noticing that Shayh Ahmad Ahsai position is not very clear. Or maybe we are not understanding his position.

Please click on the link for further info.

Was Shaykh Ahsai an Akhbari or an Usooli?

post # 8 from SC topic (contribution by a user)

Shaykh wasn't akhbari. He was usooli and one of his teachers was Sayyid Mahdi Bahr al-'Ulum Tabataba'i from whom he received letters of ijtihad as well as Kashifu'l Ghita & others. He did have akhbari teachers since Bahrain was a major center of akhbari activities in the late 1700s and they didn't mind teaching him.

According to some reports by the time of his death in the 1820s, about a 25% of Iran's population gave him taqlid. During his heyday, he was one of about 7 marjas in Yazd and Kermanshah but his followers were considered to be unusually attached to him & his teachings. He was originally from eastern Arabia and taught in Bahrain and attended the hawzas of Najaf & Kerbala. He refused to acquiesce to other ulema on his views and he refused to be legitimized by the Fath 'Ali Shah, the Qajar king.

The major source of issue for some about him was that he was an arif and because of this sometimes the views of the arif contrast with those who are juristic in background. He viewed the Shi'ite jurisprudent as a mystic and one who should be overwhelmingly spiritual by nature. The concept, as totally expounded by Shaykh, is similar to the Sufi concept of a qutb. In simpler terms, another form of legitimacy for the jurisprudent was through the qalb (heart) via dreams and he based his views on various Qur'anic passages as well as from certain hadith.

He had takfir pronounced upon him by Mulla Muhammad Taqi Baraghani of Qazwin but none of the ulema of the first order such as Shaykh Musa, the son of Kashifu'l Ghita, Mulla Ali Nuri or Mulla Ahmad Naraqi to name a few would do such. Really, there's nothing much different (from my unknowledgeable eyes) that's different from the school of Isfahan. Had Shaykh lived 200 years earlier, he would have been included among them.

...Shaykh al-Ahsai did not have anything to do with the creation of the Shaykhi school of thought, although again, his views were considered controversial among Usoolis & Akhbaris alike. He had influence on them but Sayyid Kazim Rashti, one of al-Ahsai's disciples, was the actual founder and even he didn't see himself or the latent Shaykhi movement as something seperate from the Usooli school.


Shaykh al-Ahsai never saw himself outside of the mainstream flow of Shi'ite ideology. Some of Shaykh's writings are confusing when read but you would need a qualified spiritual instructor to get through some of his letters. The Bahais like to use him because of his writings on the Perfect Shiite or the Perfect Man (Insan-e-Kamal). There's a lot more. You can read an article on him from Juan Cole who has written extensively on him and there's another work I read on Shaykh but I can't remember the author's name right now but it was very profound because it dealt with the metaphysical aspects of Shaykh's views and it was the author's thesis. I'll know in two weeks because there's a brother I know who has the book and I'll see him next weekend.

Shaykh Ahmad Ahsai bio.

Shaykhi Sect - part 3

Shaykhism - from users contribution

These posts are owned by their respective authors. They have the full rights to it.

post # 12

Sheikh Ahmed Al-Ahsaei is originally from Eastern Al-Jazeera Al-Arabia, and he was an Akbari Sheikh, who believed that Imam Al-Mahdi was going to appear at any time (During the year 1840), and he ordered his followers to look for the Imam, and some of them did. One of those students was Muhammad Ibn Ali Al-Shirazi, who later on Proclaimed to be Imam Al-Mahdi, and the founder of the Babi religion, and Ultimately Bahaism later on.

post # 18 and 21

The name of the founder of Bahaism is Hussayn Ali Al-Nuri, who was later renamed Baha’ullah - and he was one of the followers of Sayed Muhammad Ali Al-Shirazi, who proclaimed to be Imam Al-Mahdi after the death of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Ahsaei.

As for those who said he's not an Akhbari, well I suggest you reread his history again because he rejects Taqleed and the principle of conjecture through emulation of Ahlul Albayte - not to mention his complete rejection of the usage of Aql, but taking all Ahadeeth as true from the Holy Imams, which explains why Sayed Alkhomeini compared him to Wahabbism’s founder (This is the first time I hear of this, so my answer is assumed from what I read above in this regard).

This is not my opinion, but that of the Akhbari School within Athna Ashari Shiism :) Of course, the power of dispute in Ilm Al-Rijal; and how hadeeth basically functions can differ from our two schools, but non the less, it was on a high scale with Sheikh Ahmad Al-Ahsaei, and this is why Sayed Ali Muhammad Al-Shirazi took advantage of that and proclaimed the Mahdism for himself.


Post #24
I am not claiming that Sheikh Ahmad Al-Ahsaei has done anything wrong in being an Akhbari, nor did I say that Akhbaris are not Shias or anything remotely close to such a thing. As for Sheikh Ya3qoob Al-Kulyni rejecting Taqleed, he did but for a very clear reason, and that’s because the infallible Imam was present, and under the grounds that an infallible is present, Taqleed becomes void - and that exactly what Sheikh Al-Kulyni was standing on.

Once again, I am not here to discuss the roots of the two schools, both have great arguments in supporting their stances, but you have to realize that depending on Scholars is an Islamic concept, not a Sunni innovation. Most of the Usoli Mujtahids you're referring to have claimed that Sunnis have beat us to this field first due to the fact that we as Shias were oppressed and killed for many centries due to their stance against us, not to mention that Al-Ghayba Al-Kubra went into full effect in the beginning of the fourth century after the death of Al-Bab Muhammad Al-Sammiri - we did not need scholars in interpreting our faith since the Imams where there, not to mention Al-Niabah Al-Khassah which lasted a little less than a century.

Shaykhi Sect - part 2

A few more notes on the Shaykhi sect (Note: These are mostly from users contribution).

Shaykh Ahmad Ahsai

• Shaykh Ahmad Ahsai is/was an Usooli scholar.
• He promoted using the wisdom and philosophy from the traditions of Ahlul Bayt.
• He strongly believe all knowledge originate or is contain in the Holy Book
• He rejected using Sufi or Greek philosophy.
• Shaykh Ahmad appointed Sayyid Kazim Rashti as his successor

Division

• The Shaykhi school crystallized after the death of Shaykh Ahmad Ahsai (see wiki reference on his bio)
• The division in the Shaykhi school happened after the death of Sayyid Rashti (please see ShiaChat discussion)

This is a direct quote from this discussion

The first group followed Merza Hassan Qohar where he used to live in Karbala. Others followed Mohammad Kareem Khan who lived in Kerman.

The followers of Merza Johar followed Ahmad Alehsaei path in Usool and faith, while Kermanis added things to the Ahsaei intellect as The Fourth Rekn (Alrekn Alreabe3) like Sufis, That shaykh Ahmad is the shaykh and the guide.

Unfortunately yes, there isn\t much about the school of shaykh Ahsaei in English. That is because who follow his school today are inactive. Moreover, the shaykh is oppressed intellectualy by shia like persian who prefare the phlosophy of Mula sadra.

Shaykhi Sect - Mostly Users contribution

I'm reading the Shaykhi sect. This will be an informal reading based on users contribution.

It is a common knowledge that the sect is a hybrid, based on teaching of Shi'ism and Sufi'sm. According to a SC user, the follower of Shaykh Ahsai completely rejects Sufism.

Especially when it comes to the idea of man becooming one with god, and the concept of wahdat- wajood. They also reject the sufi practice of blindly following a morshed.

The user also added that one of the followers of the Shaykh Ahsai started the Bahai religion.

A student or follower of Shaykh Al-Ahsai deviates and claims to be the gate to Imam Zaman (ajtf) or the Imam himself (naoothobellah) does not mean that the sheikh himself endorsed it. On the contrary, he would be totally against bab and the bahais and the shaykh's true followers consider bahais outside of Islam. Some have even written books to answer and refute the ridiculous claims of Mirza Ali Mohammad(??) the founder of Bahai cult.

(Note: Don't really know much about the Bahai).

To be continued...

Todo: The Shaykhi sect

Collecting links for reading

The Shaykhi Sect
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/234995060-shaykh-ahmad-al-ahs/
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/234962227-shaykhi-and-usooli/
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/5243-shaykhi/
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/71607-shaikh-ahmad-i-ahsai/
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/234971900-what-is-the-difference-between-usooli-other/
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/47054-khomeinis-fatwa-on-sheikh-al-ahsai/
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/234938520-who-are-the-sheikhis-and-also-info-about-carneys-views/
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/31057-shaykhis%3B-wahhabi-shias/
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/234962227-shaykhi-and-usooli/
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/234938842-someone-have-information-about-the-shayk-school/
http://www.shiachat.org/forum/index.php?/topic/71607-shaikh-ahmad-i-ahsai/