En torno a la identidad religiosa de los autores de las <em>Rasā’il Ijwān al-ṣafā’</em> (siglos III-IV/IX-X)

Abstract

This article investigates and analyses the textual clues in the Rasā’il Ikhwān al-Ṣafā’ and the Risāla al-jāmi‘a of the Brethren of Purity in order to provide insightsinto the religious identity of their authors. To achieve this aim, we focus on different religious aspects of their two works: the spiritual message conveyed by the Ikhwān al-Ṣafā’; the way they use and interpret the verses of the Quran; the political tendency reflected in their intentions to reform the society of their time. Moreover, we reflect on the data provided by the sources on the works of the Ikhwān al-Ṣafā’, and we highlight the opinion of some researchers who have tried to clarify the mystery of the Brethren of Purity. Likewise, we investigate the possible relationship of these authors with different currents of Shia thought and groups of their time, such as the Sabeans, the Mu‘tazila, the Zaidids, the Qarmatians and the Ismailis. Finally, we analyse how the Ikhwān al-Ṣafā’ present themselves.