This seminar explores the theory and application of firāsa—the Islamic science of physiognomy or intuitive discernment—as both an analytical and spiritual discipline within Islamic intellectual and mystical traditions. Drawing on classical sources including al-Rāzī’s Kitāb al-firāsa, as well as Sufi writings by Ibn al-ʿArabī, Qushayrī, and Anṣārī, the study delineates two primary forms of firāsa: an acquired, rational form grounded in bodily typologies and correspondence theory, and a divinely inspired, luminous form associated with spiritual unveiling and direct knowledge of human souls. The article presents a typology of personality based on constitutional traits, developed further through comparisons with modern somatotype theory, and evaluates its relevance for understanding ethical disposition, psychological diagnosis, and spiritual guidance. Ultimately, the study argues that while analytical firāsa offers a preparatory means for discerning inner states through external signs, it is divine firāsa that grants certitude and insight into the unseen realities of the self and creation.
Participants are welcome to review the paper in advance; the seminar will expand upon its arguments and situate them within a broader metaphysical and existential framework.
Please note: All seminar times are listed in U.S. Eastern Standard Time (EST).