The Essence, Typology and Function of "Sharḥ Șadr" in Hadiths

Sharḥ Șadr (Spiritual excellence) is a God- given endowment that is mentioned in hadiths. Spiritual excellence is a kind of intuitive and insightful expansion and increase of capacity that enables the understanding of knowledge and truths and provides the realization and actualization of the apt to accept the light of faith in human beings. Therefore, it was felt significant to do a traditional research about the essence and function of spiritual excellence. Based on the nature and method, this research is a qualitative study that by inducing the narrations of Sharḥ Șadr, categorizing the topic and finally analyzing and explaining, it draws the connection between these traditions. In this study, first the typology of traditions about spiritual excellence and then the explanation and analysis of the underlying factors, characteristics and results of the spiritual excellence were verified.Spiritual Excellence is considered as a virtue and blessing which is beyond the status of prophet hood and is endowed to those who worship God and commit servitude and this would be led to salvation of human-being respectively. Since Imam is the ultimate source of spiritual excellence, knowledge and enlightenment (nūrāniyyat) of the Qur'an; the companionship and hindsight of “Imam bi al- nūrāniyyah” and the heartfelt acceptance of his virtues are the description of spiritual excellence, thus, this research is going to investigate the examples and ways of attainment of spiritual excellence.