A Hidden Treasure

The Hadith of the Hidden Treasure (Arabic: کنزاً مخفیاً) is a hadith qudsi that has a very prominent role in Islamic mysticism and Islamic philosophy.

Different translations

The most cited version of this Hadith in Arabic is: کنت کنزاً مخفیاً فأحببت أن أعرف فخلقت الخلق لکی أعرف

It has different translations in English:

I was a hidden treasure; I loved to be known. Hence I created the world so that I would be known
I was a hidden treasure, and I wished to be known, so I created a creation (mankind), then made Myself known to them, and they recognised Me
I was a Treasure unknown then I desired to be known so I created a creation to which I made Myself known; then they knew Me

This Hadith is also considered Da'if (weak) or fabricated by many Islamic scholars.

Sufi cosmology

According to Sufi cosmology, God's reason for the creation of this universe and mankind is the "manifestation" and "recognition" of Himself as it is stated in this hadith.[1]

In the Baháʼí faith

Bahá'u'lláh, founder of the Baháʼí faith, requested his son `Abdu'l-Bahá, who later became his successor, to write a commentary on the hadith of the Hidden Treasure for a Súfí leader named `Alí Shawkat Páshá.[2][3] In this commentary 'Abdu'l-Bahá discusses the themes "Hidden Treasure", "Love", "Creation", and "Knowledge".[4]

References

Koslowski, Peter (2001-11-30). The Concept of God, the Origin of the World, and the Image of the Human in .the World Religions. p. 99. ISBN 9781402000546.
Esslemont, J.E. (1980), Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era (5th ed.), Wilmette, Illinois: US Baháʼí Publishing Trust, p. 52, ISBN 0-87743-160-4.
"'Abdu'l-Baha's Commentary on The Islamic Tradition: "I Was a Hidden Treasure ..."". Translated by Momen, Moojan. Baha'i Studies Bulletin 3:4 (Dec. 1985), 4–35. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
Momen, Moojan (1988). Studies in the Bábí and Baháʼí Religions vol. 5, chapter: Relativism: A Basis For Baháʼí Metaphysics. Kalimat Press. pp. 185–217. ISBN 0-933770-72-3.

External links

Sufi cosmology and psychology Archived 2010-04-14 at the Wayback Machine

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[1] Koslowski, Peter (2001-11-30). The Concept of God, the Origin of the World, and the Image of the Human in .the World Religions. p. 99. ISBN 9781402000546.

[2] Esslemont, J.E. (1980), Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era (5th ed.), Wilmette, Illinois: US Baháʼí Publishing Trust, p. 52, ISBN 0-87743-160-4.

[3] "'Abdu'l-Baha's Commentary on The Islamic Tradition: "I Was a Hidden Treasure ..."". Translated by Momen, Moojan. Baha'i Studies Bulletin 3:4 (Dec. 1985), 4–35. Retrieved 20 December 2009.

[momen1988-4] Momen, Moojan (1988). Studies in the Bábí and Baháʼí Religions vol. 5, chapter: Relativism: A Basis For Baháʼí Metaphysics. Kalimat Press. pp. 185–217. ISBN 0-933770-72-3.