The Place and the Role of the Heart in Mystical Ethics

Heart is observed as the real essence of human existence by the mystics. Heart is createdwhen the incorporeal part of the human being, spirit, is connected with the implantedsoul in the body. In fact, the heart, according to the school of Ibn ‘Arabi, is the same asthe soul in philosophy, which is elevated to the higher levels of perfection, by which mancould gain the position of vicegerency of God. Those who prosper to reach the level ofheart are endowed with the divine characters and attributes especially justice and theydefend the rights of all humans in terms of their capacity. Anthropomorphic principlesare among the most important bases for mystical ethics, which will directly result insome moral conclusions. Among these principles, the position and the role of the heart isof significant importance, to the extent that it is regarded as the prime cornerstone ofethics. This paper after explaining the nature and the reality of the heart in Islamicmysticism explores its effect on the other dimensions of human being, especially inethical teachings. It also analyses the moral characters that are achieved by this view andthus shows the subtle effects of this view on mystical ethics.