The Return to Being: A Translation of Risalat al-Walayah

The Return to Being tells the story of the journey of the human soul from the material to the divine. Reminding the reader of the true nature of reality, Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’i shows how even ordinary people can reach the pinnacle of spiritual perfection. Helpful indices of Qurʾanic verses and the Arabic text of hadith texts cited complement this inspiring, spiritual work.

Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’i (1904-1981) was born in Tabriz, Azerbaijan. He authored the renowned twenty-volume Qurʾanic commentary al-Mizān fī Tafsīr al-Qurʾān as well as several groundbreaking works on Islamic philosophy and mysticism. Additionally, he wrote numerous books on Shiʿa history and doctrine to bring about a better understanding of Shiʿism throughout the world. His writings have been translated into English and numerous other languages.