Assessment of Mystics’ Approach to Meaning of repentance, and Its Mystical Degrees According to Quran and prophetic tradition

This essay deals with “repentance” (Tawba). By analyzing the resources and compering the religious point of view with mystics’ perspectives, this essay wants to explain the main aspects of this issue as well as wants to assess the coherency of mystics’ point of view to religious law.  According to Quran and prophetic traditions the term “repentance”, by its nature and concept means “returning to God”. This is acknowledged by mystics, too.  Mystics, following the Quran and prophetic tradition, on the other hand, also believe that repentance like many other religious concepts is a reality by variety of degrees.  Thus, the returning to God can be seen at all degrees of repentance and, so, every human being, at any degree needs to return to the Real.  Therefore, according to human being’s degrees the repentance has degrees. There are, also, evidences that show that repentance, in its ultimate level is “returning from what is other than God to God”.  Providing the best explanation of these religious teachings, mystics asserted that the highest level of repentance is not but returning from everything to the almighty God.