Document Type : Academicm and Research

Authors

• Mahboob Mehrnavaz ¹
• Farzaneh Rohani Mashhadi ²
• Roghayeh Ranginkaman ¹

¹ Master’s Student, Interdisciplinary Quran Studies Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Quran Studies Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Highlights

Introduction

The concept of light, as one of the fundamental notions in Islamic thought, holds a distinctive position in both the Quran and Islamic philosophy, particularly in Illuminationist philosophy (Ḥikmat al-Ishrāq). In the Quran, light symbolizes truth, guidance, and God, while in Illuminationist philosophy, it is regarded as the source of existence and the source of all perfections. A study of Suhrawardi’s works also reveals that he referenced only a limited number of Quranic verses, and the connection between these verses and the core of his philosophical theory is not very clear. Accordingly, this research examines the Quranic verses cited by Suhrawardi in explaining his philosophical theory in works such as Ḥikmat al-Ishrāq, Alwāḥ ʿImādīyyah, Āwāz-i Par-i Jibrāʾīl, Lughat-i Mūrān, Safīr-i Sīmorgh, and Partow Nameh, to clarify the extent to which his Illuminationist theory aligns with the Quran. It is noteworthy that, on one hand, the Illuminationist school was not influenced by the Quran solely regarding the concept of light, and on the other hand, a comparative study of this theory limited only to its key concept, that is, light, does not constitute a comprehensive study. Nevertheless, such a study serves as a crucial first step, paving the way for a more detailed comparative examination that could illuminate the broader dimensions of the theory.

Aligning Suhrawardi’s Philosophical Theory with the Quran

To comparatively examine Suhrawardi’s theory with the Quran, the following general steps are followed:

• Searching for and uncovering the central proposition of the theory
• Examining the Quranic verses he cites in explaining this theory
• Extracting the key concepts of the theory and corresponding Quranic terms, along with extracting related verses
• Analyzing the proposition within the obtained conceptual framework
• Repeating the above steps for the secondary propositions of the theory

In this article, these steps have only been performed for the central proposition.

Findings and Discussion

The findings show that Suhrawardi did not intend to mix the divine realm of the Quran, which he believes to be revelatory, with technical philosophical discussions; therefore, he did not reference Quranic verses in his major philosophical works. Thus, although he didn't directly use Quranic verses in developing his Illuminationist philosophical school, the Quran was certainly an illuminating light in his philosophy of light and perhaps one can claim that this idea, that is the foundational Illuminationist theory, was inspired by the verse “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth,” as evidenced by tangible Quranic confirmations in this philosopher's final achievements and no fundamental contradiction with the Quran appears. Essentially, disregarding differences in language and manner of expression between the Quran’s concept of light and the details of the Illuminationist school, this theory was reduced to one core proposition. Findings revealed that while the term “existence” (wujūd) is not attributed to God in the Quran, a special role has been given to the term “light” (nūr) such that God’s being the light of the heavens and the earth that is, the entire universe, can be aligned with Suhrawardi’s expression “Light of lights” (nūr al-anwār).

Proposed Framework for Aligning Philosophical Theories with the Quran

Ultimately, based on the predetermined methodology, after its modification and adjustment according to the necessities and experiences gained during research, the following framework has been developed for presenting a philosophical theory in relation to the Quran:

1. Identifying the core proposition or propositions of the theory
2. Extracting and examining the Quranic verses referenced in explaining this theory
3. Extracting key concepts of the core proposition or propositions and hypothesizing a list of related Quranic terms, and extracting relevant verses with special attention to the key terms
4. Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the obtained verses and aligning them with the core proposition or propositions of the theory

Conclusion

The results of this research can be summarized as follows: First, the examination of Suhrawardi’s works yielded a foundational proposition that facilitates the reader’s understanding of the studied school of thought. As mentioned, the selected proposition of this research is: “Existence and being are light, and God is the Light of lights.”

Second, regarding the term “light,” the following propositions were derived:

• God possesses light.
• God is the light of the heavens and the earth.
• God’s light is layered upon another light.
• Consequently, the heavens and earth possess another light.

Third, the conceptual network of the verses identified key terms, leading to the conclusion that the Quranic expression “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth” establishes a special role for the attribute of light among God’s other attributes. The God of the Quran is All-Knowing, Living, Powerful, and Merciful, yet He has not called Himself the Mercy of the heavens and the earth or, more precisely, the Mercy of the world, the Knowledge of the world, the Power of the world. However, just as He is Light, He also possesses light. Perhaps God’s being the light of the heavens and the earth, that is, the entire universe, can be aligned with Suhrawardi's expression “Light of lights.”

Fourth, a brief examination of the core proposition in Suhrawardi’s Illuminationist school and related Quranic verses, reveals that applying the term “light” to existence and “Light of lights” to the to the God of the existence not only aligns perfectly with the Quranic text but does so with remarkable precision, beauty, and artistry. Therefore, God’s being the Light of the heavens and the earth can be aligned with Suhrawardi’s expression “Light of lights.”

References

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Keywords

• Illuminationist philosophy
• Suhrawardi
• light of lights
• light in the Quran

Main Subjects

• Islamic