Perception of Beauty in Rumi's View; An Epistemological Approach

In aesthetic theories of western philosophical schools، beauty and its perception are investigated and explained in terms of sensory perception، in a subjective approach and merely from an epistemological perspective. But in Islamic philosophy and mysticism we find a distinctive approach to the problem of beauty and its perception. This paper is an attempt to understand of this approach through the study، reconstruction and explanation of the concept of the beauty and its perception by Rumi’s key term، “Hayra”. On his understanding، through inner perception of manifestation of divine beauty and creative imagination، human drowns in waves of love and perplexity ocean; an ontological perplexity which will lead him to the beach of guidance and salvation. Perception of beauty in Rumi’s point of view is not a mere sensual pleasure، but a way to guidance and development of the wayfarer’s existence and connection to the source of being، truth، goodness and beauty.