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Dhuʾl-Nūn al-Misrī

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | 688 words | Copyright

Dhuʾl-Nūn al-Misrī (d. 859 (AH 245)). An Egyptian mystic who travelled widely in search of truth and certainty. He became a leading authority on maʿrifa (knowledge of inner truth) and was considered to be the qutb (spiritual head) of the Sūfīs of his time. Dhuʾl Nun classified knowledge into three categories; (i) the knowledge of religious commands and observances, which is for both the elect and the common people; (ii) the knowledge gained by proof and demonstration, which is for the elect; and (iii) maʿrifa, which is beyond the power of human learning and reason (which is why so many reject it). He equated it with the love of God.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Dhuʾl-Nūn al-Misrī." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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