An Evaluative Study of "Miracles" in Islamic Mysticism and Culture

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Theology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran .

2 Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Theology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran,

3 PhD Student in Comparative Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Theology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Whether the miracles of saints are epistemological or persuasive is a matter that solves many problems of practical mysticism. Decreasing the knowledge of the mystic to the possessor of miracles has damaged mysticism, and reduced the scope of their knowledge to the reports of their miracles. The outline of the present study on the evaluation of miracles are as follows: the evaluative study of miracles in the first periods of Islamic mysticism, the lack of connection between divine knowledge and doing miracles, the lack of a position in the lower realm of religion for miracles, the attitude of famous Sufis to the miracles as a distraction from the path towards God, their humorous view, and the encounter of the Holy Quran and the infallible prophets and imams with this issue. This article, by examining the descriptive-analytical aspects of the mentioned subjects, concludes that miracles have no epistemological value, and that the occurrence of the supernatural by the seeker or the mystic does not accelerate the process of journey to God and closeness to the truth, just as its non-occurrence does not disrupt them. Finally, although the Holy Quran describes the miracles of the prophets in order to persuade the deniers or reassure some followers, it always calls people to rationality.

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References

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Journal Of Islamic Denominations
Volume 8, Issue 16
March 2021
Pages 7-31

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