Kernel of the Kernel

Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāṭabā'ī (1901–1982) was a prominent Muslim scholar who taught Islamic philosophy, jurisprudence, ethics, and gnosis in the seminaries of Qum, Iran. He is celebrated for the example of his spiritual life and for his spiritual writings. Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ḥusaynī Tihrānī (1925–1995) was one of Tabataba'i's most brilliant students. A teacher, eloquent speaker, and prolific writer, his most important works include comprehensive studies on the nature of God, the lives and spiritual status of Shii Imams, and eschatology. Formerly a Professor at the University of Tehran, Mohammad H. Faghfoory is affiliated with George Washington University and the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London.

"Aside from its historical and theological background, the Lubb al-Lubab or Kernel of the Kernel stands by itself as a masterpiece in the field of spirituality and gnosis. While naturally couched in the language and terminology of the Quran and Hadith, it conveys a message of universal order meant for all human beings." — from the Foreword by Seyyed Hossein Nasr

• Foreword by Seyyed Hossein Nasr Translator's Introduction Chapter One: Editor's Introduction 1. Attraction to the invisible world is in man's primordial nature 2. The Straight Path means a combination of exoterism and esoterism 3. The Holy Qur'an calls for purification along with intellection 4. Mulla Sadra's recommendation for humility of the heart and acquiring intellectual sciences 5. The chain of gnostics during the last hundred years 6. Reasons and motivations for compilation of this treatise Chapter Two: Kernel of the Kernel 7. The human being in the darkness of materialism 8. Wayfaring and spiritual journey according to the gnostics 9. Difficulties in passing through the intermediate world and the realm of multiplicity of the soul 10. The spiritual traveler entering the realm of spirit 11. The goal of the traveler is companionship with God and His Image 12. Muraqabah, its stages, and effects 13. The meaning of wine (mey) according to gnostics 14. The traveler observes his own soul 15. The traveler observes Divine Names and Attributes 16. Immersion in the Divine Essence of the Lord and subsistence in the Worshiped 17. The station of being present in the world of multiplicity while simultaneously witnessing and experiencing the realms of Divine Lordship 18. Reasons why not everyone can reach the station of human perfection 19. The inability of words to describe the realities of the lights of catharsis and the Realms of Divine Lordship 20. The world of sincerity (khulus) and its hierarchy 21. Peculiarities and manifestations of sincerity of essence (khulus-i dhati) 22. Freedom from the world of multiplicity is one of the first and most essential necessities of spiritual journey 23. One's detachment from one's essence 24. The need for Divine Grace for total victory in the struggle against the carnal soul 25. The necessity of observing all religious duties throughout spiritual journey 26. Observing religious duties by the Perfect Man is by virtue of perfection, and not for finding proximity to God 27. Brief description of the realms preceding the realm of sincerity (khulus) according to Qur'an Chapter Three: Description of the Realms Preceding the Realm of Khulus 28. The Greater Islam (Islam-i Akbar) 29. The Greater Faith (Iman-i Akbar) 30. The Greater Migration (Hijrat-i Kubra) 31. The Greater Spiritual Struggle (Jihad-i Akbar) 32. The Greatest Submission (Islam-i a'azam) 33. The Greatest Faith (Iman-i a'azam) 34. The Greatest Migration (Hijrat-i 'uzma) and the Greatest Spiritual Struggle (Jihad-i a'azam) 35. Choosing to Die 36. Explanation: Special privileges granted to Muslim spiritual travelers over travelers of previous religions 37. The Station of Righteousness (Suluh) 38. Different kinds of righteousness (Salah) Chapter Four: Undifferentiated Description of the Path and Methods of Wayfaring Toward God 39. The necessity to seek reason to prove the truth of religion 40. The effects of lamentation and pleading to God with humility to find faith in the World of Meaning 41. Conversation between the prophet Hadrat-i Idris with 'Allamah Tabataba'i in a dream 42. God will guide those who search guidance from Him with sincerity and purity of heart 43. Knowledge and action complement each other 44. The necessity of having bodily organs share the joy of faith 45. The absence of sadness and fear for the selfless traveler 46. Wayfaring in the Angelical Kingdom is not in contradiction with being in this world 47. Prayers and supplications of the Shi'ite Imams were not merely for guiding and teaching purposes Chapter 5: Differentiated Description of the Path and Methods of Wayfaring Toward God 48. The necessary conditions for spiritual journey 49. Abandoning conventionalism, habitual practices, and formalities 50. Steadfastness 51. Tolerance and forbearance 52. Loyalty 53. Stability and perseverance 54. Constant attention 55. One's accounting one's inward state 56. Self-condemnation 57. Expeditious action 58. Devotion 59. Observing proper manners 60. Intention 61. Silence 62. Abstaining from indulgence in food consumption 63. Spiritual retreat 64. Morning wakefulness 65. Perpetual ritual cleanliness 66. Constant expression of humility 67. Avoiding appetite and worldly pleasure 68. Guarding and protecting the secrets and mysteries of the path 69. Spiritual teacher and master 70. Litany and supplication 71. Control of mind, thoughts, and other mental preoccupations 72. Invocation 73. Meditation 74. Methods for control of mind and thoughts in the treatise attributed to Ayatullah Sayyid Mahdi (ibn Murtada ibn Muhammad) Bahr al-'Ulum 75. Methods used by the late Akhund Mulla Husayn-Quli Hamadani 76. Stages of muraqabah 77. On the chain of the author's spiritual teachers and masters in Divine sciences 78. The opening of the fourfold realms of tawhid before one's soul as a result of muraqabah and concentration on the soul 79. What do the gnostics mean by Griffin ('Anqa) and (Simaurgh) 80. Poems by Hafiz alluding to the station of the Essence of the Invisible of all invisibles Index of Qur'anic Verses Index of Ahadith Index of Quotations of the Sayings of the Shi'ite Imams Notes on Saints, Scholars, and Authors Cited in the Text General Index