Ahl-e Haqq

The Ahl-e Haqq order is one of the mystical branches of Jafari Shi'ism that was founded in the 14th century by Soltan Eshaq. The order's doctrinal principles, fundamental pillars, sacred personalities, and specific rituals have been set forth in detail in the book Borhan ol-Haqq [Demonstration of the Truth].

We will discuss only a few brief points here related to the four fundamental pillars of the Ahl-e Haqq: purity (paki), rectitude (rasti), self-effacement (nisti), and self-abnegation (reda). An Ahl-e Haqq adherent must be pure both inwardly and outwardly in every respect. Rectitude is the opposite of deviation and implies travelling the right path, which results from observing divine prescriptions and proscriptions. Self-effacement is the opposite of egotism and means eliminating all pride, self-satisfaction, selfishness, impulses of the carnal self, concupiscent rebellions, and ethical baseness from within, and to completely resign to that which has been destined and seek nothing but divine satisfaction. Self-abnegation refers to helping others and sacrificing ourselves wholeheartedly and without any pretension for God's beings, such that it could be said we "seek our own suffering for the comfort of others." (For more information, see Borhan ol-Haqq [Demonstration of the Truth].)