Islamic Art Studies

Islamic Art Studies

The Manifestation of Muhammadan Light (PBUH) in Mystical Poetry: Sana'i's Hadiqah, Attar's Four Masnavis, and Rumi's Masnavi-ye Ma'navi, and Its Reflection in Qazvin School Miniature Painting

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Faezeh Ezadi 1
Masoud Rohani 2
Ahmad Ghani Pour 3
Morteza Mohseni 3
1 PhD student, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Mazandaran University, Mazandaran, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Mazandaran University, Mazandaran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Mazandaran University, Mazandaran, Iran
10.22034/ias.2021.308925.1761
Abstract
The journey towards knowledge and truth pursued by mystics is fundamentally different from that of scholars and theologians. Mystics rely on revelation and intuition. As a mystic strives to purify themselves from impurities, their heart becomes increasingly receptive to the light of truth. Despite ongoing debates with philosophers and scholars, mystics maintain that the only path leading to intuition is the path of love. The deeper a lover seeks truth from within the fabric of existence, the more directly they traverse this path.   The significance of mystical introspection has occasionally been acknowledged by philosophers. Sufis approach God's creation with a sense of taste and surrender, always prioritizing the heart over reason and argumentation, which they see as limiting. A mystic seeks vision rather than mere knowledge, understanding that the pursuit of truth cannot be achieved through books or schools but through the science of love. It is essential to recognize that a mystic attains certainty while acknowledging that "the Absolute Truth is unknowable and remains an enigmatic mystery, even through revelation and intuition." Under ordinary circumstances, truth can only be known through divine manifestation. The stories of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are also vividly represented in miniature paintings, especially in the Qazvin School.
Research Objectives:

To examine how renowned poets and mystics such as Sana’i, Attar, and Rumi have utilized the Sharia, anecdotes, and stories of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in their works.
To explore the representation of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) stories in the Qazvin School of miniature painting.

Research Questions:

Have great poets and mystics like Sana’i, Attar, and Rumi drawn upon the Sharia, anecdotes, and stories of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in their works?
How are the stories of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reflected in the Qazvin School of miniature painting?

 
Keywords
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Sana'i
Attar
Rumi
Masnavi
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