Rumi and Mystical Experience
July 2, 2026 DOI: 10.4324/9781003711544-9 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn Rumi's thought, mystical experience is akin to direct sight or a delightful aroma, emphasizing an interior, heart-centered knowing of the Beloved. The Sufi's pilgrimage is an inward journey where God is found. In the Mathnawi, the soul is not fully identified with the Divine; rather, it takes on divine characteristics through nearness, like iron in fire becoming hot while remaining iron. Spiritual experience is described as rebirth and a return to the soul's origin.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Soul Pilgrimage Spirituality Religious experience |
| Key finding | Argues that in Rumi's Mathnawi, mystical experience is an inward, sensory knowing of the Beloved, where the soul becomes like the Divine without being identical to it. |
Abstract
Mystical experience in Rumi is compared to the directness of sight. It is not just about words. It is about knowing the Beloved. It is also compared to smelling a delightful aroma, and its interior or ‘heart’ aspect is emphasised. The Sufi’s pilgrimage is not merely an external destination but a journey inwards. It is there that God is found. In the Mathnawi , at least, he does not completely identify the soul with the Divine. Rather, the soul, in its nearness to God, takes on the characteristics of the Divine, just as iron in fire becomes hot and glowing, while remaining iron. Spiritual experience is spoken of as rebirth and as a return to the soul’s place of origin.