Immortal Echoes in Mortal Words: “Love,” “Attraction,” and “Selflessness” in Fayḍ Kāshānī’s Mystico-Philosophical Poetry

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy of Religion, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Mysticism, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran

10.22091/jptr.2024.10015.2966

Abstract

This paper explores the metaphysical concepts of divine “love” (ʿeshq), “attraction” (jadhbe), and “selflessness” (bīkhodī) in the seminal Iranian Shīʿī Muslim thinker Mullā Muḥsin Fayḍ Kāshānī’s poetry. This research emerges from the gap in existing literature, which mainly explores Fayḍ Kāshānī’s philosophical, theological, or ḥadīth works, while the scrutiny of his poetry largely stays within its literary attributes, overlooking the philosophical and mystical themes embedded within. The paper’s thesis posits that according to Fayḍ Kāshānī, the spiritual journey commences with reason, progressing to constant divine contemplation, a combination that nurtures muḥabbat—an initial stage of divine love—which, when discovered, evokes a more intense love: “divine attraction” in the seeker’s heart, leading to selflessness and divine unity. This paper employs the hermeneutic method and analytical examination to scrutinize Fayḍ Kāshānī’s poetry within the context of his treatises. It follows an “intracultural” interpretation to explore Fayḍ Kāshānī’s thought within Persian intellectual tradition and uses an “intercultural” interpretation to contextualize the findings within Islamic, Christian, and ancient Greek metaphysics. The methodology includes a “horizontal interpretation” of Quranic and ḥadīth references in Fayḍ Kāshānī’s works and a “vertical interpretation” of unveiling deeper meanings of Fayḍ Kāshānī’s thoughts within the broader mystical traditions.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Philosophical Theological Research
Volume 26, Issue 3
September 2024
Pages 193-221

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