🌟 KAHRUBĀ (كهربا): The Intriguing Ṣūfī Concept of Attraction
Definition:
KAHRUBĀ (كهربا) – From its literal translation “attracting straws,” this term in Ṣūfī philosophy extends to represent electricity or the power of attraction. It reflects every form of divine attraction where an external force draws together smaller, sometimes seemingly insignificant, particles or objects.
Etymology:
Derived from the Arabic “kahru” (power) and “bā” (with/on), implying a natural, omnipresent force that binds elements together.
Background:
KAHRUBĀ finds significant use amidst Ṣūfī thinkers and poets as it symbolizes both tangible and intangible facets of attraction, merging the material notion of electricity with spiritual resonance.
Cultural Context:
The notion of KAHRUBĀ transcends many cultures in its interpretation:
- Islamic Traditions: Comprehended mainly within the confines of Ṣūfī mystical practices, whereby attraction anchors a believer’s pull towards the divine ambit.
- Western Discourse: Resonates with ideas akin to electromagnetism but does not possess the deeply intrinsic spiritual undertaking Ṣūfīs embrace.
- Comparative Mythology: Features notions of magnetic or divine pull in divergent theological frameworks, suggesting a universal appeal of attraction.
Synonyms:
- Tajali (eternal manifestation/presence)
- Jazb (inner pull or attraction)
Antonyms:
- Farq (separation)
- Tanfir (repulsion)
Related Terms:
- Ṣūfīsm:
- Tajalli: Theophanic or divine manifestation.
- Fanā: Annihilation of the self in the divine presence.
- Wasl: Connectivity or unification with the divine.
Exciting Facts:
- Historical Usage: Ibn Arabi, a prominent Ṣūfī mystic, frequently employed the term KHARUbā to expound on divine energies.
- Scientific Modernity: Early Islamic scholars’ understanding of attraction aligns remarkably with contemporary electromagnetic principles.
Quotations:
- Rumi: “Love’s magnet pulls all straws, sweeping them into the heart, wherein doth electricity of souls reside.”
- Ibn ʿArabī: “KAHRUBĀ binds worlds not just by force but by the sheer will of the divine.”
Recommended Literature:
- “The Essential Rumi” – Translations by Coleman Barks that encapsulate love and attraction.
- “The Bezels of Wisdom” (Fusûs al-Hikam) by Ibn Arabi – An intricate look at metaphysical correspondences.
- “Masters of Wisdom of Central Asia” by Hasan Palasi – Insights into regional spiritual intricacies.
- “Electricity of the Divine” by Ali Yumein – A modern contemplation on ancient symbols.
Quizzes:
May these insights attract you closer to the profound and invisible realms of divine comprehension. The gravitational allure of wisdom always points towards the heart.
Submitted by: Rashid al-Khwarizmi
Date: 2023-10-03
Follow the threads of divine attraction, and let them pull you into the boundless universe of spiritual awakening.
