Fazlallah Astarabadi | फ़ज़लल्लाह अस्तराबादी | فضل اللہ استرآبادی کی سوانح عمری اور مزار کی تاریخ

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Biography of Fazlallah Astarabadi and the history of his shrine

Dekhti Aankhooon aur sountay kaanoon ko Asslamoalaikum, sisters, brothers friends and elders, in informative series videos of Islamic ascolars, sufisaints, cultural heritages, islamic philosophys, islamic mysticisms and historical figures. today we are describing biography of Fazlallah Astarabadi and the history of his shrine.

Fazlallah Astarabadi, also known as Fazlallah Hurufi or Fazlallah Tabrizi, was an influential Iranian mystic and the founder of the Hurufism movement. Born in 1340 in Astarabad (modern-day Gorgan, Iran), he hailed from a family that claimed descent from Ali ibn Abi Talib through Musa al-Kazim, the seventh Shiite Imam. His father served as the chief qadi (judge) of Astarabad, and upon his father's death, the young Fazlallah succeeded him in this position, despite his youth.

Fazlallah's spiritual journey was profoundly influenced by Sufism. An incident that marked a turning point in his life involved hearing verses from the renowned mystic poet Rumi, which emphasized the importance of experiencing divine love and knowledge firsthand. This encounter led him to immerse himself deeply in Sufi practices, particularly the dhikr (remembrance of God), and he soon gained a reputation for his ability to interpret dreams and provide spiritual guidance.

His quest for spiritual enlightenment took him on extensive travels. He is believed to have performed the pilgrimage to Mecca twice. During his second journey, while in the Fars region, he experienced a significant dream in which Imam Ali al-Reza instructed him to visit his tomb in Mashhad. Obeying this vision, Fazlallah altered his route to pay homage at the Imam's shrine before continuing to Mecca.

A series of profound dreams in the Khwarezm region further solidified his sense of a divine mission. In one such vision, he saw a radiant star rising from the east, its light entering his right eye, accompanied by a celestial proclamation of his destined greatness. These experiences attracted a following, initially in Khwarezm and later in a northern suburb of Isfahan, where he established a community characterized by asceticism, self-reliance, and charitable acts.

Around 1373, Fazlallah moved to Tabriz, where he gained favor at the court of the Jalairid rulers through his dream interpretation skills. It was during this period that his teachings began to diverge from orthodox Islamic practices. In February 1375, during the month of Ramadan, he underwent a profound spiritual revelation that unveiled to him the esoteric meanings of Islamic rituals and the symbolic significance of the Persian-Arabic alphabet's letters. This experience left him in a state of spiritual ecstasy for three days, after which he felt compelled to share this newfound knowledge.

Fazlallah's teachings culminated in the formation of Hurufism, a mystical movement that emphasized the divine nature of letters and their numerical values as keys to understanding the universe and achieving spiritual enlightenment. Central to Hurufi doctrine was the belief that God's essence is manifest in human form and that the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet and the 32 letters of the Persian alphabet hold profound cosmic significance.

His seminal work, the "Javidan-nama" ("Book of Eternity"), encapsulates the core principles of Hurufism. This text, revered by his followers, delves into the mystical interpretations of letters and their correlations to human features and the broader cosmos. The "Javidan-nama" is considered the sacred scripture of the Hurufi faith.

Despite the growing popularity of his teachings, Fazlallah faced increasing opposition from orthodox Islamic authorities, who viewed his doctrines as heretical. In 1394, he was arrested near Nakhchivan on the orders of Miran Shah, the son of the conqueror Timur (Tamerlane). Accused of heresy due to his claims of divine manifestation and his reinterpretation of Islamic tenets, Fazlallah was executed.

Following his execution, Fazlallah's body was interred near the site of his death. His followers established a shrine at Alinja, which became a pilgrimage site and a center for the dissemination of Hurufi teachings. Despite persecution, the Hurufi movement persisted, influencing various Sufi orders, notably the Bektashi order in Anatolia. The Bektashis integrated many Hurufi elements into their practices, ensuring the survival and propagation of Fazlallah's mystical insights.

Fazlallah Astarabadi's legacy is evident in the enduring influence of Hurufism on subsequent Islamic mysticism. His innovative interpretations of language and spirituality offered a unique perspective on the relationship between the divine and the human, challenging conventional religious boundaries and inspiring future generations of mystics and poets. The integration of Hurufi principles into various cultural and religious contexts underscores the lasting impact of Fazlallah's vision on the spiritual landscape of the region.

With this, we seek your permission until tomorrow, tomorrow we will describe the biography of Najm al-Din al-Razi and the history of his Shrine.
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