Tanasukhiyya
Template:Infobox sects and denominations
Tanasukhiyya, refers to a spectrum of Extremist Shia sects. According to Abd al-Karim al-Shahrastani, the Ghulat compare the Imams to God and consider them as Hulul (indwelling) in human bodies, and like the "Tanasukhis" and Nazarenes, they believe in the Tajsim (corporalism) of God.
History
Belief in Metempsychosis has a pre-Islamic history. Abd al-Karim al-Shahrastani writes regarding this: "There is no nation among nations except that metempsychosis has a firm root in it, and indeed their methods differ in expressing that[1]. That is, there is no nation except that metempsychosis has a strong root in it, and indeed their difference lies in the manner of expressing it.
Tanasukh in Linguistics
Tanasukh linguistically is taken from the root Naskh. Raghib Isfahani writes in the definition of Naskh: Naskh means eliminating something by means of something that comes after the first thing, just as the sun eliminates the shadow and the shadow eliminates the sunlight, or old age eliminates youth[2].
Tanasukh in Terminology
Tanasukh terminologically means the belief in the disembodiment of the soul from the body and its transfer to another body. This act is called Naskh. Whereas the transfer of the soul to an animal is called Maskh, and to lower and smaller animal bodies Faskh, and transfer to plants and inanimate objects is called Raskh. They say that in all the aforementioned four stages, the human soul does not forget the sense of superiority and repentance from its sins, such that it can, through purification of the soul and good deeds, ascend from the lowest animal station to the highest human station. Al-Malti writes: "Tanasukhiyya" believe that man is only the soul and his body is a garment that he continuously wears and also changes, and the impurities that exit from the mouth, nose, stomach, urine, semen, and sweat from the human body are pure and clean, and can even be eaten. They say a Sufi man named Munir who lived in the year 545 AH, ate the excrement of his Sheikh (Master) and said that it is pure[3].
Sects Believing in Metempsychosis in Islam
Followers of this belief have chosen a name for themselves in every land. In Isfahan Khurramiyya or Kudakiyya, in Ray Mazdakiyya and Sunbadhiyya, and in Azerbaijan Dhaquliyya and in Transoxiana, Mubayyida or White-clad ones, and in some other points, Red-clad ones are called[4].
See Also
Footnotes
References
- Abd al-Karim al-Shahrastani, Al-Milal wa al-Nihal, Date of entry: n.d., Date of access: 16 Esfand 1404 SH.
- Raghib Isfahani, Al-Mufradat fi Gharib al-Quran, Tehran, Murtazawiyya Publications, Date of entry: n.d., Date of access: 16 Esfand 1404 SH.
- Mohammad-Javad Mashkur, Farhang-e Feraq-e Islami, Mashhad, Astan Quds Razavi Publications, Year 1372 SH, 2nd Ed, Date of entry: n.d., Date of access: 16 Esfand 1404 SH.