Asceticism (Riyāḍat) is a significant topic in the field of mystical 
spiritual wayfaring (sulūk), which can manifest legitimately as selfdiscipline and self-purification or illegitimately as arduous ascetic 
practices and monasticism. From the perspective of Allamah 
Tabatabai, asceticism has a profound impact on the human soul. 
Effective and legitimate asceticism in Islam is fully articulated, and 
only the method of the Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) for spiritual 
wayfaring and the elevation of the human soul is endorsed, while 
other deviant methods, whether within Islam or other religions, are 
rejected. On the other hand, by examining Quranic verses and 
narrations, we find that monasticism—a form of asceticism—is 
sometimes recommended and at other times rejected. Allamah 
argues that the Almighty God has neither explicitly negated nor 
legislated monasticism. The apparent contradiction can be resolved 
by recognizing that the concept of monasticism does not carry the 
same meaning in all contexts. The aim of the present research is to 
analyze the contradictions regarding monasticism using a 
descriptive-analytical method based on Allamah Tabatabai's 
statements.