Spiritual Sultanate of Imam al-Riḍā (A.S.) A Deliberation on the Conceptual Association between Divine Dominion and Calmness of the Heart in Ḥadīth of Imam al-Riḍā (A.S.)

“Spiritual Sultanate” is among the phrasings that Qāḍī Sa‘īd Qummī has used about Imamate. This concept has a direct relation with the Imam’s sovereignty in the world of Divine Commandment or malakūt (Divine Dominion). For this same reason the title “Sultan” in the Shī‘ī pilgrimage prayer books (ziyāratnāmas) and appeals (tawassuls)، such as al-walī al-murshid addressing the Eighth Imam (A. S.)، indicates the high position of that holy Imam (A. S.) for guidance of the spiritual wayfarers. In order to figure out this position، a tradition about calmness (sakīna) quoted from his holiness (A. S.) is studied in this article. According to this tradition، a Divine countenance and distinction would emerge for the faithful. In this research، while expounding ḥadīth of Imam al-Riḍā (A. S.)، some evidences of the intuitions of the learned experts have been presented denoting that one of the most perfect forms of calmness of the heart is the luminous countenance of Shams al-Shumūs، the guardianship of Imam ‘Alī b. Mūsā al-Riḍā (A. S.).