Traversing Heavens in Attar's Mystical Journey
Subject Areas : Islamic Mysticism
1 - استادیار گروه زبان و ادبیات فارسی، واحد ساوه، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، ساوه، ایران.
Keywords: the Almighty, mysticism, Attar, Traversing heavens, theosophy, Spiritual Journey,
Abstract :
Islamic mysticism that is inspired by revelation teachings, according to the Quranic verse quoted "We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own souls, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth." (Fussilat (41): 53), the spiritual journey of a Sufi involves traversing heavens and souls. Attar in his mystical masterpieces of prose and verse has explained how to have mystical journey, especially traversing heavens, and how to catch Suffi's attention toward that. In Attar's mystical thought, traversing heavens comes before spiritual journey. Even with "Fact is an arch of metaphor" observing the manifestations of the universe – that is symbol of names and attributes of Allah – is essential for mystical conduct, and understanding the quality of creatures' relationship with each other and the creator of universe, results in observation of the Almighty's manifestation and elegance in created components. Attar's process of traversing heavens ranges from the stage of material and natural life to the stage of soul and spirit up to world of heaven. He removes various veils from the manifestations of the universe by his penetrating look and achieving the conscience of it, seeing the unity fact in the possible existence of the universe, and through the unity of witness's theory he become connected with the really exact source of the universe – that is the ultimate wishes of a Sufi.
