The Impact of the Qur an and Tradition upon Mystical Literature

The present paper discusses, in the first place, the critical issue of mystic journey and the ‘four journeys’ which is the basis of mysticism, from the perspective of divine utterance. In this section, by relying on multiple Quranic verses where there is an implicit or explicit reference to the extrovertive and introvertive journeys of mankind toward perfection, the Quranic origin and basis of mystic journey can be substantiated. The paper then focuses on the epistemological issue of guardianship and its different kinds – including general and specific guardianship, absolute and limited guardianship, as well as religious legal authority and unconditional authority – based on the text of the Qur’an or its latent meaning as well as the tradition of the holy Prophet. These are then presented in three sections of divine sovereignty, guardianship of perfect man and the guardianship of the prophets and the devoted friends of God. In the third section, we deal with the hermeneutical interpretations by mystics (especially Mowlana); what the mystics present in their interpretation of Quranic verses and traditions – relying on their own exegetical understanding – is based on the verses where there is a reference to the word ‘exegesis’. Furthermore, in their exegetical approach to the Qur’an, they also rely on a tradition by the holy Prophet (PBUH), according to which the Qur’an has a form, as descended, and a multi-layered content that can be interpreted.