“Samaritan Mysticism”: Religious and Philosophical Teachings of Ibrāhīm al-Qabāṣī

Abstract

The article reconstructs religious and philosophical concepts of the Samaritan theologian, exegete and mystic Ibrāhīm al-Qabāṣī (d. after 1547). Based on the unstudied al-Qabāṣī’s treatise of “The Way of the Heart to Recognize the Lord” (Sayr al-Qalb fī Maʿrifat al-Rabb), the author comes to the conclusion that the Samaritan theologian depended on Arab-Muslim discourse, and, in particular, on the categorical schemes of Sufism. The fragments of “The Way…” introduced into scientific use eloquently testify to Ibrāhīm’s familiarity with such Sufi concepts as ṭarīqah, šarīʿah, ḥaḍrah, as well as with the “ranks” of the Sufi hierarchy (quṭb, watad, badal); The connection between the scribe’s teachings and the legacy of ʾAbū Ḥāmid al-Ġazālī (d. 1111) is separately noted. The study of al-Qabāṣī’s programmatic work is preceded by a brief biographical note, as well as an excursion into the textual history of “The Way…”.