Religious Research

Religious Research

A Study of the Historical Origins of Ahl-e Haqq in Religions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mahdi Asgari 1
Mostafa Farhoudi 2
Arash Goodarzi 3
Mohammed Soori 4
1 PhD student, Islamic Mysticism and Sufism, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Mysticism and Sufism, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
3 PhD, Religions and Mysticism, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy, Qom, Iran
10.22034/jrr.2024.389688.2102
Abstract
One major issue concerning the history of the Ahl-e Haqq sect, or Yarsanism, is its religious origin. Various hypotheses have been proposed, including its origination in ancient Iranian religions, Christianity, Hinduism, and (Shiite or Ismaili) Islam. Some scholars of Ahl-e Haqq have suggested that this religion is eternal. This article addresses the following question: How can these diverse views lead to the truth? Using descriptive-library methods and extensive field studies, the article critiques and examines different hypotheses before proposing a new perspective: the historical core of Ahl-e Haqq was shaped by a group of prominent mystics from various sects and creeds who practiced unique rituals in the Perdivar area. Importantly, the diverse intellectual and cultural backgrounds within Ahl-e Haqq do not justify attributing its entire origin to a specific sect or approach. Cultural exchanges and mutual influences are present in all intellectual traditions. Due to the intellectual and doctrinal backgrounds, as well as myths rooted in ancient Iran, many figures within Yarsanism can only be traced in historical sources by comparing events and figures with Ahl-e Haqq myths and legends
Keywords
Ahl-e Haqq
Yarsanism
Shiism
Sufism
dunādūn
Perdivar
Sulṭān Isḥāq
Subjects
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Field Research
Document no. 1: Interview with Seyed Karamollah Shah-Ebrahimi, November 15, 2015, Kermanshah, Iran.
Document no. 2: Interview with Seyed Seif Ali Aali Ghalandari, November 17, 2015, Kermanshah, Iran.
Document no. 3: Interview with Seyed Seif Ali Aali Ghalandari, November 17, 2015, Kermanshah, Iran.
Document no. 4: Interview with Seyed Karamollah Shah-Ebrahimi, February 28, 2016, Kermanshah, Iran.
Document no. 5: Interview with Seyed Karamollah Shah-Ebrahimi, February 28, 2016, Kermanshah, Iran.
Document no. 6: Interview with Seyed Seif Ali Aali Ghalandari, February 29, 2016, Kermanshah, Iran.
Document no. 7: Interview with Seyed Amin Rasaee, November 15, 2015, Kermanshah, Iran.
Document no. 8: Interview with Seyed Farid Farhadvand, February 1, 2016, Kermanshah, Iran.
Document no. 9: Interview with Seyed Amin Rasaee, August 21, 2015, Kermanshah, Iran.
Document no. 10: Interview with Seyed Rahmatollah Shah-Ebrahimi, September 7, 2015, Kermanshah, Iran.
Document no. 11: Interview with Seyed Farid Farhadvand, January 30, 2016, Kermanshah, Iran.
Religious Research
Volume 12, Issue 23 - Serial Number 23
September 2024
Pages 55-78