‘Irfān (Arabic/Persian/Urdu: عرفان, also spelt Irfaan/Erfan)
literally means knowing/awareness.The term is often translated
as gnosis, however it also refers to Islamic mysticism. Those
with the name are sometimes referred to as having an insight
into the unseen. Irfan is also a Muslim given name, usually used
for male persons. The concept of Irfan overlaps considerably
with Sufism in both meaning and content. A large number of the
Twelve Imams appear in numerous Sufi orders. In Twelver Shiism
on the other hand, the term refers specifically to gnosis that
can be revealed strictly within the confines of Islam. Among the
most famous modern Shia proponents of Irfan were Usooli
theologians Allameh Tabatabaei and Ruhollah Khomeini. The
scholars taught how gnosis can be attained by adhering to
Islamic teachings with love for God. The 17th century Mulla
Sadra of Iran is generally seen as the historical ideologue for
Irfan in Shi'ism. - ^ Mutahhari, Murtaza; Tabataba'i, Muhammad
Husayn; Khomeini, Ruhollah (2000). Lig