The Philosophy of Divine Love: A Comparative Study of Sufi Mysticism and Bhakti Movement
Sk Abdul Hamid
Revista Review Index Journal of Multidisciplinary March 31, 2024 DOI: 10.31305/rrijm2024.v04.n01.017 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Key points | Argues that divine love in Sufi and Bhakti traditions functions as a dynamic ethical and spiritual principle that can foster individual transformation and social cohesion, rather than being merely a devotional feeling. |
Abstract
The idea of divine love as expressed in Sufi mysticism and the Bhakti movement is examined in this essay, along with the similarities and differences in its conception, application, and moral implications. I examine how Sufi mystics view divine love (ʿIshq e Haqiqi) as a transformational force that dissolves the ego and joins the seeker with the transcendent Absolute, cultivating moral virtues and spiritual insight, using a comparative perspective. The Bhakti tradition, on the other hand, integrates moral living with emotional closeness and group involvement, emphasizing a personal, relational, and reciprocal devotion (prema) toward a particular deity. Despite having different metaphysical underpinnings, both faiths are deeply committed to the transformational power of love and use ritual expression, poetry, and devotional activities to foster communal harmony as well as individual spiritual fulfilment. The study also explores the spiritual and ethical ramifications of divine love, emphasizing how these customs foster moral involvement, inclusion, and compassion in both individual and societal contexts. The philosophical insights of Sufi and Bhakti love provide a compelling model for interpersonal empathy, moral behaviour, and communal togetherness in modern circumstances characterized by cultural variety, social fragmentation, and existential ambiguity. The paper shows that divine love is not just a devotional feeling but a dynamic ethical and spiritual principle with ongoing relevance by placing mystical devotion within both historical and contemporary frameworks. This comparison highlights how the pursuit of divine love can both elevate the individual and promote social development. Sufi and Bhakti traditions offer ageless patterns of ethical and spiritual transformation.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- The Poetics of Divine Love: Metaphorical Expressions of ʿIshq in Rūmī’s Maѕnavī-i Maʿnavī Üsküdar Üniversitesi Tasavvuf Araştırmaları Enstitüsü Dergisi May 1, 2025
- Impact of Bhakti and Sufi Mysticism on Social Harmony: Understanding Mystical Experiences and Practices Lectures December 18, 2024
- Contemplative Practices in Action 2010