Abstract:
In mystical ethics, some virtues have a foundational role in relation to other virtues; that is, other virtues are in some ways dependent on, conditional to, or rooted in them. This is a gradational concept, and therefore one can speak of foundational and more foundational among foundational virtues in mysticism. Honesty is the most foundational virtue in mystical ethics, and other virtues are in some way dependent on it. Studying mystical ethics sources, we find six types or six meanings of foundational, all of which apply to honesty: origin, prerequisite, overlapping, companion, companion of perfection, and standard. This article explains and describes these six meanings and their application to honesty in mystical sources.
Machine summary:
The words and views of mystics regarding the definition of foundational virtue are various, but one can glean six main meanings from their works: origin, prerequisite, overlapping, companion, companion of perfection, and standard.
Without either of these two elements, modesty will not be achieved, and thus each of Meanings of Foundational Virtue in Islamic Mystical Ethics / 67 these two actions/qualities can be considered foundational in the sense of prerequisite for modesty.
The emptiness of the state when there is no honesty means that honesty is a necessary condition for the attainment of all worthy moral and mystical qualities/actions.
We will show equivalency with the symbol “=” and symbolize the definition in the following way: [M = OB(f)] / (Am = Af) Meanings of Foundational Virtue in Islamic Mystical Ethics / 71 Sometimes this relation between two moral actions/qualities is explained by saying that if the moral agent is attributed to one of the two, it is not necessary for him to be concerned about the other.
Regarding honesty, mystics believe that a person who is completely honest has indeed the worth and essence of all good moral actions/qualities.
Therefore, according to some Muslim mystics, honesty is considered foundational in the sense of overlapping in relation to all other virtues and moral actions/qualities.
Tehran: Tus. Ansari, Khwaja ‘Abd Allah.
Qom: Dar al-‘Ilm. Ansari, Khwaja ‘Abd Allah.
Tehran: Nashr Ney. Ibn Abi Jumhur, Muhammad b.
Meanings of Foundational Virtue in Islamic Mystical Ethics / 79 Jilani, ‘Abd al-Qadir al-.