Lorestan University
Abstract: (17 Views)
Muslim mystics have employed various allegories and imagery to explain and illustrate different mystical concepts. Images derived from nature and the living environment of their audience were more suitable for conveying these concepts effectively. Consequently, the entry and exit of light particles through the apertures of domed houses has become one of the images used as a foundation for expressing some of the most important themes in mystical texts. This research examines why mystics were inclined toward "light" in ontological discussions and their use of "light and aperture" imagery. A descriptive-analytical examination of some of the most significant themes depicted through "light and aperture" imagery reveals concepts such as: the creation of the world through divine light, the light of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the creation of the material world, the descent of spirits in the form of light particles and their longing to return to their origin, the inspiration of love and knowledge in the heart, the conceptualization of body and world as a windowless house, the necessity of struggling against the self, and the role of spiritual guides and Sama (spiritual dance) in this context. It appears that, in addition to the ancient Iranian ontological background of light, interpretations of the Verse of Light and the Hadith "The first thing God created was my light," the conception of knowledge as light, the living environment of mystics in domed houses with apertures, along with common beliefs about the celestial dome and the inclination of light particles toward the sun, and the understanding of the heart as the seat of knowledge and love, have all influenced the formation of imagery derived from "light and aperture."
Article number: 2
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