The Comparative Study of the ´Alā´ al-Dawlah Semnānī's Me'raj- Nāmeh and ´Attār's Mosibat-Nāmeh

Abstract

The “Inner stairs” or “Inner Journey” is one of the epistemological cases in Gnostic schools. Corresponding to the Ascent, traveler's soul during the developmental journey to the stages like Heart, Secret, Spirit and Inner Mystery can obtain a capability which enables traveler to experience the manifestations and External Multiplicities within his heart and offer them for his inner self. What is released by this journey in this inner travelling is a part of his awareness to the objectified reality.  Semnānī’s Me’rāj- nāmeh either in terms of theme or in terms of dialogues and story's characters' baking to Low and Celestial manifestations has many similarities with ´Attār's Mosibat-Nāmeh. Although, Semnānī's thesis is an experimental work but undoubtedly, its author considered Attar's Mosibat-name because of familiarity with Attar's thoughts. This paper tries to compare these two works and to introduce their similarities and also to focus on the importance of Inner Travelling or travelers' individual experiences in direct understanding of reality. Through the step by step comparison of the story's characters' ascent, the manner of dialogues and the concepts of their dialogues with Nature manifestations and mentioning of differences, we will show their content commonalities.

Keywords

  • Receive Date: 29 January 2023
  • Revise Date:
  • Accept Date: 29 January 2023
  • Publish Date: 20 March 2016