A Brief Investigation into the Most Important Principles of the Mystical Interpretation of the Holy Qur'an

According to Muslim mystics, esoteric interpretation of the holy Qur'an, which means explaining the inner meanings of the holy Qur'an, has some principles. To dispel some doubts and reject accusations against Muslim mystics, this paper briefly studies the most important principles of interpretation of the holy Qur'an. These principles are as follow: 1. Setting words for the spirit of meanings; 2. The various meanings of the holy Qur'an; 3. The reference of all the inner and outer meanings of the holy Qur'an to God; 4. The unexclusiveness of the awareness of the esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an to God and the infallibles (peace be upon them). Using a descriptive-analytical method, this paper, under each of the above-mentioned titles, first, refers to some of the mystics’ words, explains their meanings and then reviews and criticizes their ideas and perhaps those of their opponents. The research results show that, first, the general terms are not set only for their examples; second, the holy Quran has many apparent and inner meanings; third, God has intended all these meanings; fourth, although only the infallibles (as) can be aware of all the apparent and inner meanings of the Divine Book, others can also understand and explain the esoteric interpretation of the Qur'an to some extent, based on their scientific level and the degree of their inner purity.