The Return to Being: A Translation of Risalat Al-Walayah by Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i

by Muhammad Husayn Tabatabai

"The Return to Being" tells the story of the journey of the human soul from the material world to its ultimate goal Chr(45) annihilation in Allah's actions, attributes, and essence. In this work, 'Allamah Tabataba'i outlines the human-divine relationship and the stages by which human beings can reach human perfection in their journey towards the station of 'being in Being'. The author contends that all human beings have the capacity to achieve this highest stage of spiritual perfection whereby they can witness the beauty and glory of God. Integrating ontological and epistemological principles, Tabataba'i elaborates on the two interior and exterior aspects of realities, including religion, which manifest at different existential levels. The author also suggests spiritual methods to anyone who would like to learn more about theoretical and practical principles in order to attain spiritual refinement and to achieve the interior dimensions of existence and religious knowledge.

Genres: Islam, Philosophy, Religion, Spirituality

Paperback

First published January 7, 2010

About the author

Al-ʿAllāmah Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ṭabāṭabāʾī was one of the most prominent thinkers of philosophy and contemporary Shia Islam, influencing the fathers of the 1979 Islamic Revolution such as Motahhari and Beheshti. He is famous for Tafsir al-Mizan, a twenty-seven-volume work of Quranic exegesis, which he worked on from 1954 until 1972. He studied gnosis, mathematics, jurisprudence and Ali ibn Sina's "Book of Healing" at Najaf, Iraq.

سید محمدحسین طباطبایی (زاده ۱۲۸۱ تبریز - درگذشته ۲۴ آبان ۱۳۶۰ قم) معروف‌به علامه طباطبایی روحانی، عارف، فیلسوف و نویسنده ایرانی بود. وی از مجتهدان شیعه و از برترین مدرسان حوزه علمیه قم به شمار می‌آمد، که از شاگردان وی می‌توان به مرتضی مطهری، عبدالله جوادی آملی، محمدتقی مصباح یزدی، حسن حسن زاده آملی، سید محمد بهشتی، سیدعلی خامنه‌ای، سید جلال الدین آشتیانی، هادی خسروشاهی، مرتضی تهرانی، محمد مفتح، احمد احمدی، علی قدوسی، محمدرضا مهدوی کنی، غلامحسین ابراهیمی دینانی، علی احمدی میانجی، سید عزالدین حسینی زنجانی، محمد محمدی گیلانی، سید موسی صدر، سید محمد علی قاضی طباطبایی،علی سعادت پرور و جعفر سبحانی اشاره کرد.

تفسیر المیزان، نهایةالحکمة، رسالة الولایه، شیعه در اسلام، حاشیه بر اسفار صدرالدین شیرازی و اصول فلسفه و روش رئالیسم بخشی از مهمترین آثار اوست.

Reviews

[Aymun M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does exactly what it aims to - helping you foster a better connection with your Lord as well as a deeper understanding into how to attain spiritual perfection. I found that it touched on topics that are still relatable today, adding to its timelessness. Although hard to read in some small areas, it was overall incredibly enjoyable.

[Tyler Mallari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good intro into the depth behind the Islamic concept of "fana'" or "losing oneself in God"