Qutb
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Qutb, Qutub, Kutb, Kutub or Kotb (
According to the Institute of Ismaili Studies, "In mystical literature, such as the writings of al–Tirmidhi, Abd al–Razzaq and Ibn Arabi (d. 1240), [Qutb] refers to the most perfect human being who is thought to be the universal leader of all saints, to mediate between the divine and the human and whose presence is deemed necessary for the existence of the world."[4]
Scriptural evidence
In the teachings of Al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi, there is evidence to suggest that the Qutb is the head of the saintly hierarchy which provides scriptural evidence to support the belief in the qutb. The hadīth attributed to Ibn Mas‘ūd has been used as proof that a qutb exists.[5]
Temporal Qutb and cosmic Qutb
Temporal Qutb
There are two different conceptions of the Qutb in Sufism: temporal Qutb and cosmic Qutb. The temporal and cosmic qutb are connected, which guarantees that God is present in the world at all times. The temporal qutb is known as "the helper" or al-ghawth and is located in a person on Earth. The cosmic qutb is manifested in the temporal qutb as a virtue which can be traced back to al-Hallaj. The temporal qutb is the spiritual leader for the earth-bound saints. It is said that all beings - secret, animate, and inanimate - must give the qutb their pledge which gives him great authority. The only beings exempt from this are al-afrād, which belong to the angels; the djinn, who are under the jurisdiction of Khadir; and those who belong to the tenth stratum of ridjālal-ghayb.[5]
Due to the nature of the Qutb, the location where he resides, whether temporal or cosmic, is questionable. It is thought by most that the Qutb is corporeally or spiritually present in
The language of Sufi is a notable style of writing in Persian which is full of novel spiritual ideas and metaphors, this indicates of the needs to not take their wordings literally if it seems to be against the Islamic teachings.[7]
Cosmic Qutb
The cosmic Qutb is the Axis of the Universe in a
The cosmic hierarchy of the Qutb
The cosmic hierarchy is the way that the spiritual power is ensured to exist through the cosmos. Two descriptions of the hierarchy come from notable Sufis. The first is
The second version is Ibn Arabī’s which has a different, more exclusive structure. There are eight nujabā ("nobles"), twelve nuqabā, seven abdāl, four awtād, two a’immah ("guides"), and the qutb.[12]
People named Qutb
For those named Qutb ad-Din, with many variant transliterations, see Qutb ad-Din
Buildings
- Qutb complex, a group of monuments and buildings at Mehrauli in Delhi, India
- Qutb Minar, a tall brick minaret in Delhi, India
References
- ^ a b Esposito, John L. (2003). The Oxford dictionary of Islam. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.
- ^ Hobson, J. Peter (2001). The Concise Encyclopaedia of Islam. London, England: Stacey International & Cyril Glasse. p. 374.
- ISBN 90-04-09796-1.
- ^ A glossary of terms, The Institute of Ismaili Studies Archived 2010-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Bearman, P.; Kunitzsch, P.; Jong, F. "Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition". Koninklijke Brill NV. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
- S2CID 154491288.
- )
- ^ "Idris and Al Khidr"--see Axis of the Universe about one-fourth of the way down the web page:
- ^ "The Tree Symbol in Islam" by Noble Ross:
- Planes of existenceas conceived in Shi’ism
- ^ The Saints of Islam, quoting The Mystics of Islam by Dr. Reynold A. Nicholson
- ISBN 0-02-865733-0.
