Theology of Love and Its Prerequisites in the Writings of Sheikh Ahmad Sirhandi

Love is one of the fundamental themes of Islamic mysticism, and this word is completely intertwined with Persian literature, especially mystical literature. Poets and mystics have used this word extensively and have sanctified it. Sheikh Ahmad Sirhandi, who is considered one of the famous mystics of the tenth and eleventh centuries AH, has also addressed this fundamental keyword in his writings. This article aims to examine the subject of love and affection in Sheikh Sirhandi’s writings using the method of text analysis and to answer the question of what place love has in his mystical system and what characteristics he has listed for love in his writings. The results of the data show that Sheikh Sirhandi, while considering love as one of the pillars of conduct, like other mystics, has also identified and expressed its significant characteristics in an innovative way. He considers love and affection to be a subset of the Khallat, and in his opinion, Khallat is created both by the Supreme Creator (=God), the cause of creation, and by the existent (=creatures); even non-existence is in its own solitude thanks to Khallat, which has been created by its own nothingness and has become the medium of the existence of beings. He also believes that love and affection are a means of separation from others, and worship without love is the same as self-worship. He also believes that ecstasy and dancing are for beginners and that those who have attained perfection are not people of commotion and excitement.