Classic Sufism and gnosis
Milad Milani
Routledge eBooks October 3, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9781315561608-31 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that the term "gnosis" (ma'rifa) can appropriately be retained for classic Sufism, since it refers to a direct, experiential knowledge of God available to all seekers and achieved through spiritual ecstasy, direct intuition, or the master-disciple relationship. Proposes that Sufism's mystical category emerged from the fundamental spiritual quality of Islam. |
Abstract
Gnosis in the sense of ma&s;rifa , the soul&s;s experience of the divine that is related to what is known as "mystical experience," is directly relevant to classic Sufism. The special knowledge that is the product of mystical experience can be agreed to account for gnosis in classic Sufism, this being a knowledge that is available to all who seek a personal and direct knowledge of God. The term "gnosis" can be retained when referring to classic Sufism because it is applicable through its reconfiguration as theosophy, loosely used, and insofar as Sufis maintain that knowledge of God can be achieved through spiritual ecstasy, direct intuition, or special individual relations, i.e., between master and disciple. The trajectory of the Sufi tradition is based on the emphasis placed on the fundamental spiritual quality of Islam, out of which emerged the mystical category in that same religion.