The Degrees of Existence in the Great Universe from the Perspective of Mysticism, Reason, and the Quran

The various degrees of existence in the macrocosmos and the parallelism of these degrees with one another is an issues repeatedly emphasized by mystics and the basis of ontological and textual interpretation for them. Of course, in explaining these degrees, mystics have sometimes divided them generally into two material and divine worlds, and some other times, they have had three, five, or seven divisions for these degrees. They have also described each degree or world beneath as an example of the world above, and emphasized on the correspondence or parallelism of these worlds or degrees. This has enabled them to interpret and understand the inner meaning of the universe based on its outward aspect. While explaining the theory of degrees of existence in macrocosmos and their parallelism from the perspective of mystics, this paper presents evidence for this claim. It also examines this subject from the point of view of reason and the Quran, and concludes that it is confirmed by reason and the Quran. The principle of the multiplicity of the degrees of universe, regardless of their number, is certain and definite from the point of view of reason and tradition.