Nature as Revelation Across Abrahamic Mysticism: Sufi, Kabbalistic, and Christian Mystical Ecotheologies

Abstract

This article explores the ecotheological dimensions of three Abrahamic mystical traditions (Sufism, Kabbalah, and Christian mysticism) by viewing nature as a form of non-verbal revelation. Through a comparative theological approach, this study highlights both the convergences and divergences in how these traditions understand the relationship between humanity, the cosmos, and God. All three regard nature as a sacred reality: Sufism interprets nature as tajallī (manifestation) that guides the seeker toward divine love and fanāʾ; Kabbalah situates nature within the cosmological myth of shevirat ha-kelim and the ethical-spiritual task of tikkun olam; while Christian mysticism emphasizes the sacramentality of creation and its Christological dimension as an icon of God’s presence. These mystical perspectives converge in viewing the cosmos as a medium of encounter with the Divine, yet they differ in theological and spiritual emphasis. This article argues that such perspectives provide not only a metaphysical framework but also a spiritual foundation for ecological ethics, allowing the contemporary environmental crisis to be understood not merely as a scientific or political issue, but also as a religious calling. Thus, Abrahamic ecotheology offers transformative insights for constructing an ethical paradigm of ecological justice, sustainability, and the sacredness of creation.