The Allegory of the Monk's Doctrinal Rejection of Satan's False Claim to Be the Returned Jesus
In Section 101 of Jami's Haft Awrang, a monk who has withdrawn into monastic seclusion is tested by the Devil (Satan), who appears at his door claiming to be Jesus descended from heaven to guide him in religion. The monk refuses to be deceived by reasoning through doctrine rather than emotion: he has already learned and been illumined by the religion of Jesus, so if this visitor merely brings the same religion, his descent is pointless and useless; and if he brings a different religion, the monk will never accept it. Faced with this steadfastness grounded in the completeness and finality of the established faith, Satan abandons his deception. The allegory teaches that firm knowledge of one's true religion and rational discernment protect the seeker from spiritual deception and from false claims of prophetic or divine authority.
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Humanities
Literature
Persian Literature Prerequisite Course