The quest for liberation is a central theme in the sayings of Sufism and the elders of Khorasan, reflected in Qur'anic verses and the teachings of mystics across time. This research examines the idea of liberation within the mystical school of Khorasan, tracing its history and evolution from early ascetic practices to the time of Rumi. The concept of liberation from the world appears in Khorasan's first ascetic experiences and remains an indisputable principle. The idea of self-liberation and death in life overlaps with notions of nothingness, annihilation, survival, self, unconsciousness, death, rebirth, and ecstatic utterances like Sobhani and Ana al-Haq. The historical course begins with liberation based on asceticism and austerity, evolving through romantic liberation (the way of love) and the lover's destruction in the beloved.
Rumi's poetry explores the meaning of life through philosophical and mystical components, including sadness, happiness, self-knowledge, and death awareness. A key teaching is that self-knowledge gives life purpose: by knowing oneself, one discovers that existence and God reside within the soul. The article uses content analysis and a descriptive-analytical method to examine these themes in the Mathnawi, arguing that Rumi presents life's dimensions—material, spiritual, worldly, eternal, animal, and human—as accessible only through a compassionate intellect.
Spiritual, mystical, and religious experiences often arise from awareness and comprehensive knowledge that cannot be explained by daily life alone. These experiences are central to religious traditions and appear in moments of revelation and spiritual inspiration. Reports of such events come from all periods and cultures, and followers of all religions have had them. This article examines the exact meanings of spiritual, mystical, and religious experiences and what distinguishes them. Spiritual experience may be considered consciousness of another level of life, while mystical experience may be the experience of unity.