Abstract

Mystical literature is one of the issues that accounts for a large part of
Persian literature. Given its extent, mysticism (Sufism) has seen a lot of
ups and downs. In addition, its impact on other areas is also significant.
Mysticism is such an important topic about which different and even
conflicting opinions have been issued. Therefore, so many different
mystical schools have been established throughout history according to
different tastes, various characteristics of which can be traced in the
process of Persian literature.
The present paper attempts to investigate the development of this
process during the course of the sixth to the ninth centuries(A.H.) Efforts
have been made to present a brief overview of the issue first, and then
address its fundamental features. Furthermore, due to the abundance of
mystical works in this age, the researchers tried to base their analysis
mostly on the main mystical books of this period, namely Sanāyī’s
Hadīqat and Rumi’s Mathnawī Ma'nawī. After introducing the
characteristics of the mystical texts, including the levels of language,
concept, special expressions related to Sufis, etc., efforts have been
made to evaluate the instances of these characteristics in every single
work, including Abhar al–‘āsheghīn, Sanāyī’s Hadīqat, Sanāyī’s Sayr
al-mbād elā al-ma'ād, Elāhī Nāmeh, Mantiq al-teyr, Mokhtār Nāmeh,
‘Attār’s Dīvan and Asrār Nāāmeh, Asrār al-towhīd, Fīhe mā Fīhe,
Rumī’s Mathnawī Ma´nawī and Ghazaliyat-e-Shams, and specified
ghazals from Hafez.

Keywords

• Mysticism
• Mystical Literature in 6-9th Centuries
• Characteristics of Mystical texts
• Mystical schools