Abstract:
The question of the origin of Islamic mysticism has been one of the major concerns of many researchers in the field of mysticism in the recent decades. Some have maintained that Islamic mysticism is an imported product: a combination of Eastern spiritual traditions or a mixture of Manichaeism and Alexandrian philosophy. However, in order to find out the real origin of Islamic mysticism, the best way is to investigate the main questions of Islamic mysticism and to trace them in the Islamic culture and tradition. Reflecting on the personal unity of existence, the most important principle of Islamic mysticism, the author shows that Muslim mystics have been so inspired by the teachings of the Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet and the Imams that there remains no need to look for the origin of Islamic mysticism outside the Muslim tradition.
Machine summary:
Reflecting on the personal unity of existence, the most important principle of Islamic mysticism, the author shows that Muslim mystics have been so inspired by the teachings of the Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet and the Imams that there remains no need to look for the origin of Islamic mysticism outside the Muslim tradition.
Keywords: personal unity of existence, manifestation, Islamic mysticism, the oneness of God, encompassing distinction.
Then, the doctrine of the personal unity of existence, the answers to the objections made to it, and some of its technical terms (such as the absoluteness of the divisible, manifestation and appearance, and encompassing distinction) are discussed.
3. Encompassing Distinction Mystics have explicit words on the identity of God and beings: "Truly, the Real is the reality of every known object" (Qaysari 1381 Sh, 1086); "Glorified is He who has manifested the things, while He is their reality" (Ibn Arabi n.
Evidently, this discussion is very serious, for the belief in the identity between God and creatures is explicitly against the Qur’anic verse "There is nothing like Him" (Qur’an 42:11), and Muslim mystics, who believe that they are the spiritual children of the Prophet, do not accept such a view and strongly stand against it.
Moreover, the verses and traditions show that unity, existence, and manifestation are all attributed to God. In a similar way, concepts such as the face of God, the word of the Exalted Real, venous closeness, the most High in Ranks, and unity of acts confirm what we have said.