Haqq–Muhammad–Ali

Haqq–Muhammad–Ali refers to a mystical communion (Arabic: اتحاد, ''ittiḥad'') in Alevism that involves Haqq (‘Truth’ referring to the divine nature of Allah), Muhammad ('Yol' or Sunnah referring to the Jem (Alevism)) and Ali (‘ Nūr’ referring to the Awliya).

The concept of Ittihad in Alevism

In Alevi thought there are three creative principles: the latent breath called Haqq or ''Allah''; the prototypal human which is made up of active and passive principles called Yol, Sunnah or ''Muhammad'' (the Jem); and the divine light called Nur expressed as ''Ali''. Communion (ittihad) in Alevism is not comparable with the Christian trinity, whose three personas are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit nor with the tritheistic conceptions of Hinduism, with Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu (known as the Trimurti), and certainly not with polytheistic ancient Egypt in Osiris, Isis and Horus, one cannot accurately depict such examples as being representative of the Haqq–Muhammad–Ali communion (ittihad), since according to Alevi or Bektashi beliefs ('' wahdat al-mawjud''), only Allah is a real entity, Muhammad and Ali being simple manifestations of the way (Yol) and the light (Noor) of Allah (Haqq) and not of Allah himself, hence they are neither equal to it nor separate independent entities.Imaginal worlds, William Chiittick(1994), pg.53Ibn al-'Arabi, Muhyi al-Din (1164–1240)
/ref> This doctrine does, however, bear similarities to the ''Smarta'' Hindu view of ''Brahman''. In Alevism, Muhammad is the means by which the Nasut (human nature) of the Avlioh (Saints) achieve ittihad (communion) with Haqq being the Lahut (divine nature) of Allah. It has more in common with theosis and the distinction and unity of the divine and human physes in orthodox Christology than it does with any kind of tritheism.

The Alevi doctrine

Allah is divine consciousness which first generates and gives shape to the ''Kull-i Nafs'', a latent passive energy existing within Godhead. ''Kull-i Nafs'' is actually the apparent power of God to give life form, almost like a womb in that it is a place of manifestation where the concealed potential within Allah can be known and made visible. Thus, the physical universe is a mirror image of Allah. Kull-i Nafs reflects the spirit or divine consciousness of Allah. ''Nafs'' is Arabic for ''breath'' and it is the breath that binds the spirit with Allah. Kull-i Nafs is also envisioned as the '' anima mundi'' or ''Soul Body'' as it is the divine consciousness reflected through the breath of Allah which gives this soul its own life and forms the Universal Human, the prototypal human, made manifest in Muhammad. However, the prototypal human is not male or female, but is a perfect interplay between the two in much the same way as Taoists envision ''Taiji''. Within this prototypal human active energies contain passive and passive contain active. The light or ''Nur'' which links the two together is represented by Ali.

Alevis feel no difficulty in speaking about God as a unity of heart, mind and spirit but believe that the term ''Hak-Muhammed-Ali aşkına'' (for the love of God-Muhammad-Ali) has nothing to do with a tritheistic polytheism and is misinterpreted by outsiders. According to them it's a short way to refer to Allah as the only One to be worshipped, Muhammad as the Rasul and Ali as wali along with the Twelve Imams in Alevism. Just like other Shia Muslims Alevis say: "La ilahe ilallah, Muhammadden Resulullah, Aliyyen Veliyullah" (There is no god but God, Muhammad is His messenger, Ali is His wali). Alevis believe that all prophets and saints were strictly monotheists.

See also

* Ghulat
*Proto-Indo-Iranian religion
*Proto-Indo-European religion
* Religious humanism
* Sufism
*Trinity

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haqq-Muhammad-Ali
Alevism