A Mystical Approach to Ethics versus the Narrative Approach

Since the beginning of Islam, there have been two clear mystical and narrative approaches to ethics. The focus of this study is on the features of the mystical approach to ethics and their differences with those of the narrators’ approach. The differences of these two approaches include: 1. The purpose of ethics in the first approach is the material pleasures of heaven while in the second one the purpose is God’s knowledge and manifestation of His attributes; 2. Observing ethics in practical mysticism is a habit of the seeker about divine ethics; 3. In the first approach, ethics is assumed as the characteristics having positive effects on correcting social relationships but in the second approach, the significance of ethics is its effect on reaching God’s knowledge; 4. From the viewpoint of narrative ethics, good moral is spiritual dignity, and from viewpoint of the mystics, divine moral and appearance of God’s traits are in individual; 5. Self-conceit is not absolutely excluded in the first approach while in practical mysticism, destruction of soul is concerned. 7. Unlike science of ethics, the esteemed moderation in practical mysticism is not the balance of powers but it is the appearance of God’s traits and in some cases, moderation is not defined.