Authors

• Zahra tork ladani ¹
• Sayyed Mahdi lotfi ²
• Sayyed Ali Asghar Mirbagheri Fard ³

¹ Ph.D student, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Education of Ahl al-Bayt (AS), Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Ahl al-Bayt (AS), University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran (corresponding author)/ m.lotfi@ltr.ui.ac.ir

³ Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Basra and Damascus (aš-Šām) as two Umayyad bases, played a significant role in the growth and promotion of ascetic ideas and Sufi teachings in the Islamic world in the first two centuries after Islam. Therefore, this research investigates the dimensions of ascetic behavior in these two cities in the individual and social dimensions and explaining the commonalities and differences of these two cities in this field. Based on the comparative study method, it was found that despite the great effort of the ascetics of these two cities to worship and indifference to the world, the people of Basra had a more balanced approach than the people of Syria, and their asceticism was more in the direction of moral values, while in the city of Syria, the ascetics were trying to extend their prayers, fasting frequently, and continuously reciting the Qur'an. In the Subordinate class of the ascetic of Basra, more attention was paid to lawful acquisition and proper use of worldly blessings than neglecting the world, and extreme asceticism was seen only among some students of Hasan Basri, while most of the ascetics of Syria were satisfied with the minimal benefits of worldly blessings and government per capita.
In the social dimension, a kind of passivity, tolerance and isolationism can be seen in dealing with political and social issues and dealing with rulers in Basra. While the hermits in Syria, in addition to publishing knowledge, hadith, and religious teachings, have also taken charge of affairs, judging, and commanding the army, and they have followed reformative, protesting, and dynamic discourse in criticizing the deviations of the Umayyads in order to correct and follow the way of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Companions.

Highlights

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Keywords

• Keywords: Asceticism
• Sufism
• Ascetic behavior
• Basra
• Syria