Karim Khan Kermani
Hajj Mirza Mohammad Karim Khan Kermani (1810--1873), was a Shia scholar, a self-appointed leader of the Shaykhi community after the death of his mentor, Sayyid Kazim Rashti, who was the appointed successor to Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsaʼi. Kermani dedicated himself to the promotion of the teachings of Shaykh Ahmad and Sayyid Kazim. The opinions Kermani expressed became the subject of controversy among his supporters and opponents alike.
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Although he claimed to be nothing except an expositor of the teachings of Shaykh Ahmad and Sayyid Kazim, Kermani has to be considered an original thinker in his own right. A particularly controversial doctrine developed by Kermani is the doctrine of the Fourth Pillar (al-Rukn al-Rābiʿ), pertaining to the need of the Shiʻi community at any given time for the existence of at least one especially enlightened cognizant within their midst.
References
- Henry Corbin (1971). le shî'isme duodécimain (in French). ISBN 2070724042.
- Henry Corbin (1971). sohrawardî et les platoniciens de perse (in French). ISBN 2070724050.
- Henry Corbin (1972). les fidèles de l'amour, shî'isme et soufisme (in French). ISBN 2070724069.
- Henry Corbin (1972). l'école d'ispahan, l'école shaykhie, le douzième imâm (in French). ISBN 2070724077.
- Emir Nosratedine Ghaffary (1965). Farah. L'Univers Paradiasiaque des Soufis Persans. Teheran. 1965.
Further reading
- Corbin, Henry (1977). Spriritual Body and Celestial Earth: From Mazdean Iran to Shi'ite Iran. Princeton University Press, New Jersey.