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The Concept of God beyond God in the Khat Nirinjan of Pir Sadardin

Publication Type  Journal Article
Year of Publication  2003
Authors  Tajdin, Nagib.
Place  Montreal
Key Words  English; Full Text Online
Notes  

DETAILS: "The Concept of God beyond God" in the Khat Nirinjan of Pir Sadardin". Montréal, April 2003.


The Concept of God Beyond God in the Khat Nirinjan of Pir Sadardin

[Full text is available for download in the attached pdf.]

by Nagib Tajdin

The paper explores the concept of "GOD beyond God" in the Khat Nirinjan, a lesser-known work of Pir Sadardin, a revered Pir among the Nizari Ismaili community in India. The work is divided into three parts, with the first part being the main focus of the analysis.

The author highlights the historical background of Ismaili Dawa in India, dating back to the 9th century, and the significance of Pir Sadardin as the 26th Pir out of the 51 authorized Pirs. Pir Sadardin's compositions, including Ginans and Granths, have been well preserved and are still recited within the Ismaili community.

The paper relies on a manuscript from the Heritage Society, written in Khojki scripts in 1895 AD, containing several Granths, Ginans, and Garbis. The work begins with the Khat Nirinjan, which the author translates as "the One beyond the reach of the eyes of the Highest God."

The core of the paper revolves around Pir Sadardin's attempt to explain the concept of "God the Attributes" and "GOD beyond God" through a conversation between "GOD beyond God," the Khat Nirinjan, and Brahma, the Creator. The author compares this concept to Henry Corbin's explanation of the Name Allah as the nostalgia of "God the Attributes" unable to reach his own Origin.

The author interprets the text, explaining that "Khat" means "the Highest" rather than the number six, as commonly misinterpreted. "Nirinjan" refers to the Invisible, beyond what can be seen by physical eyes. The paper explores how the work progresses, delving into the creation of the universe and the relationship between Brahma and his Origin.

Furthermore, the paper argues that Pir Sadardin identifies himself as Brahma, akin to the pre-Fatimid concept of Imam Mustawda and the Hujjat-ul Imam in the Fatimid period. The work concludes by establishing the identity of the Khat Nirinjan as the Imam of the Time.

The paper provides a thorough analysis of the Khat Nirinjan, shedding light on the complex theological concepts and philosophical ideas presented in the text. It presents Pir Sadardin's unique perspective on the beginning of God and the dual aspects of divinity, which align with the concept of "Pir-Shah" in the Ismaili tradition. The paper contributes to a deeper understanding of Ismaili beliefs and highlights the significance of Pir Sadardin's contributions to the community's spiritual literature.

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