Comparative Study Of Heaven in Islamic and Jewish Mysticism

Subject Areas : Islamic Mysticism

Fariba i Taj-Mir-Al ¹ , Hamid Mahmoodiyan ² , Ali-Akbar Afrasiyabpour ³

1 - دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد دهاقان، دانشجوی کارشناسی ارشد عرفان اسلامی، دهاقان، ایران
2 - دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد شیراز، استادیار گروه عرفان، شیراز، ایران
3 - عضو هیات علمی دانشگاه تربیت دبیر شهید رجایی

Received: 2015-03-13 Accepted : 2018-08-04 Published : 2015-01-21

Keywords: Merkabah, Hasidism, heaven, Jew, mysticism, Islam, kabala,

Abstract :

Islam and Judaism have mutal aspects, out of which is "heaven" or "arsh" in Arabic. In the present study, similarities and differences about that are explored. The subject has been clarified by Islamic and Jewish mystics. In the Islamic literature, it is believed that heaven is the heart of the believers and God dominance is on this heaven. It also indicates that the heart of a perfect man is the heaven (arsh) of God. There are several meanings for "heaven" in Quran including: throne, God place on divine place that has been based on water. According to Merkabah, which is the oldest version of Jewish mysticism, the soul (mind) in returning to its origin, should pass through seven heavens or seven castles or skies, the divine intuition has be attained for mystic. The follower, in seeking Lord, should walk in the royal doorways and mystic chambers. He, then, is eager to enter heaven castles of Angles, should quickly and continuously say Psalm, spiritual prayers and hymn. Sometimes, in Jewish texts, we see that God is described as human and is personified.