Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• fatemeh hamzeh ¹
• jahangir safari ²
• Alireza nikouei ³
• mohammad kazem yousefpour ³
• ahmad amin ²

¹ university of shahr e kord

² university of shahrekord

³ university of guilan

Abstract

in introducing Islamic mysticism and Sufism. This has led to the formation of a vast array of definitions and perceptions regarding the flow of Islamic mysticism, which stem from the differing perspectives and approaches of researchers and scholars. Therefore, attention to this matter and the emphasis on concepts such as approach, method, and perspective have made methodological studies even more crucial, to the extent that ignoring this issue is considered one of the serious drawbacks in literary studies. This article, relying on the works of William Chittick, a renowned orientalist in the field of mysticism and Sufism, seeks to provide brief definitions of method, approach, and perspective, and distinguish between these concepts, as well as to analyze the approach of this orientalist's mystical works. We aim to highlight the fundamental elements and propositions that Chittick focuses on in his mystical studies. Additionally, by introducing author-centered hermeneutics as his study approach, we will examine Chittick's definition and perception of mysticism and its relationship with religion and revealed matters. Concepts such as the Imaginal World, the reflective nature of the created world, and the Perfect Human are the central elements that Chittick uses and approaches to study the flow of Islamic mysticism and Sufism. choosing this approach highlights the difference between his studies and those of other researchers.

Keywords

• William Chittick
• Islamic Mysticism and Sufism
• Approach
• Imaginal World
• Perfect Human