A Comparison between Dr. Nasr's Perspective and Shi a View of Gnosis and Spirituality

The discourse of traditionalism that Dr. Nasr advocates is concerned with spirituality, especially religious spirituality. This subject makes us ask about the degree of relationship between the spirituality of traditionalists and Shi’a gnosis and spirituality. The present research, which offers answers to the aforementioned question, first reviews Dr.Nasr's works, extracts the components ofcomponents of spirituality and gnosis suggested in his works, and investigates the features of gnosis and spirituality to evaluate the relationship between these two.Using an analytical documentary approach the research concludes that Dr. Nasr supports the spread of spirituality through a Sufi approach. Emphasizing on Sufi spirituality, he holds that Sufism is the heart and center of Islam. According to this viewpoint, gnosis cannot be achieved without divine law, and the origin of Sufism should be found in Shi’a thought. He believes that Sufism is the only way to solve all the problems of contemporary man is and emphasizes on uselessness of human gnostic schools. He has a tendency towards Islamic gnosis with traditionalistic presuppositions and tries through a purposeful choice to introduce Sufism as identical to Islamic gnosis.