Ala al-Dawla Simnani
Iran/Persia (? - 1336) Timeline
Muslim / Sufi


Poems by Ala al-Dawla Simnani
Books - Links

(Not to be confused with Sayyid Ashraf Jahangir Simnani, who lived about a century later)

'Ala' al-Dawla Simnani spent his early life as a courtier at the Ilkhanid Mongol court and was a cherished companion of the emperor Arghun. After a mystical experience on the battlefield, however, Simnani turned his back on a life of luxury and became a Sufi. He advanced rapidly in his spiritual quest and soon became one of the most influential Sufi masters in Persia.

While many Sufis have been Shiite, Simnani stood out as a Sunni.

Simnani conducted a famous debate with other Sufis over Ibn Arabi's notion of the mystic's oneness with God. Simnani favored a more dualistic language in order to avoid the excesses that led some mystics to hint at (or be misunderstood to suggest) an equivalence with God.

Poems by Ala al-Dawla Simnani


Recommended Books: Ala al-Dawla Simnani

Love's Alchemy: Poems from the Sufi Tradition The Throne Carrier of God: The Life and Thought of 'Ala' Ad-Dawla As-Simnani



Related Links

Simnani vs. Ibn Arabi
http://nuruddinzangi.blogspot.com/2006/05/simnani-vs-ibn-arabi.html

Excerpt from the book The Throne Carrier of God, exploring the philosophical parallels and differences between Simnani and Ibn Arabi.

Sunni Razvi Society International - Simnani
http://interact.sunnirazvi.org/forum/read.php?19,1470,1470

A book review of The Throne Carrier of God, with many insightful comments on differing Sufi philosophies and cultural assumptions.

An Introduction to 'Irfan
http://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?id=4025&page=2

Brief note about Simnani and his disciple Kirmani.
Ala al-Dawla Simnani