A Comparative Study of Sheikh Ishraq's Theory and the Verses of Light in the Holy Quran

Document Type : Academicm and Research

Authors

1 Interdisciplinary Quranic Studies Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University

2 Assistant professor, Interdisciplinary Quranic Studies Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Interdisciplinary Quran Research Center - Shahid Beheshti University

10.22091/ptt.2025.11738.2399

Abstract

This research aims to reconcile Sheikh Ishraq's (Suhrawardi's) theory with the Quranic verses of light (ayat al-nur), proposing a novel framework for aligning philosophical theories with the Quran. A four-stage process was employed: first, identifying the core tenet of Illuminationist philosophy (Hikmat al-Ishraq) from Suhrawardi's works; second, examining Suhrawardi's utilization of light instances in the Quran, considering the research background; third, analyzing the selected proposition and corresponding verses; and fourth, reconciling this proposition with the Quran's conceptual network of "light" (nur). Findings indicate that while Suhrawardi did not fundamentally base his school on the Quran, its literature is indebted to it, leading to his extensive subjective, allusive, and testimonial use of Quranic verses. Furthermore, the Quran does not apply "existence" (wujud) to God, assigning a unique role to the attribute of "light" among divine attributes. Consequently, God's being the "light of the heavens and the earth"—the entire cosmos—can be aligned with Suhrawardi's concept of "Nur al-Anwar" (the Light of Lights).

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Comparative Interpretation Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 11 May 2025

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