The Influence of Varram Series on Abvab-ol-Jenan (Arrogance, Conceit, and Hypocrisy)

“Varram series” is one of the authentic sources on Qur’anic verses, Hadiths, and traditions revered by both Shiite and Sunni scholars. It has been authored by Sheikh Abol-Hossein Varram ibn- Abi Faras ibn Nakhaie, a 6th-7th century (AH) Shiite jurisprudence and scholar, and consists of two parts. The first part provides a selection of Ghazali’s theological book, Ehya-ol-oluom, including moral virtues such as piety, asceticism, and self-purification; it also mentions moral vices and ways of overcoming them, virtues and ways to gain them, manners of interpersonal relations and certain other details of manner of conduct; sections on death, next world life, and descriptions of the Resurrection. The second part repeats the same concepts and meanings. There is a a renowned series known as ‘Abvab-ol-Jenan’ left behind by Mulla Mohammad Rafie-al-din Vaez Qhazvini, an 11th century (AH) poet and scholar. The first volume of this work includes fourteen discourses; in each, the author, using literary language and rhetorical devices, introduces and criticizes one human moral vice. Then the author quotes verses from the Holy Qur’an relating to the point in question and proceeds to interpret the verse in his literary style. In so doing, he quotes the intended Hadiths from such books as Varram series, Ershad-ol-Qholoub, Kanz-ol-Latayef, Zahrat-o-Ryaz, Ebn-e-Babeveh’s Amali, Oddat-o-Daie, Sheikh Tousi’s Amali, Sheikh Sadouqh’s Amali, and, above all, Nahj-ol-Balagheh. It is noteworthy to mention that in all Mulla Vaez has mostly drawn upon Tanbih-ol-Khater and Nazhat-o-Nazer known as Varram series. Since the eighth and ninth discourses of Abvab-ol-Jenan are on arrogance, conceit, and hypocrisy, the present article aims to establish the manners proposed by Mulla Vaez to overcome these vices, and thereby to analyse the influences of Varram series on his Abvab-ol-Janan.