Image of Happiness and its Developments in Islamic Mysticism from the Beginning to the 5th Century A.H.Image of Happiness and its Developments in Islamic Mysticism from the Beginning to the 5th Century A.H.

According to a considerable number of mystics, happiness for the Almighty God in the path toward Him has a promoting and transcendental effect and makes the mystic to achieve some truths which could not be obtained through years of praying and fasting. Given the importance and effect of this issue in the conduct of the mystics, whatever has been reflected and highlighted from Islamic mysticism includes an emphasis on privative and grief-stricken thoughtfulness bysome mystics who spend their time in fear and sorrow; accordingly, they are far from any happiness and joy. The same reason has brought about an imprecise and incorrect image of the Islamic mysticism so that a beautiful and important part of this thoughtful and practical movement has remained hidden. Therefore, the image of happiness in Islamic mysticism from the beginning to the 5th century A.H. has been analyzed and the changes thereto in different centuries as well as its effective factors are illustrated in this paper. Although the prevalent approach of the primary ascetics and Sufis is mixed with fear and sorrow due to some reasons, the route of happiness in Islamic mysticism shows that entrance of the deep mystical topics and the rise of issues such asdivine knowledge and glory, fear and consent, inebriation and mortality, manifestation of beauty, proximity to and love for God, and, pure and fearful heavenly attitudes have gradually diminished before mystics and they enjoy the kindness and joy of knowledge as well as observance of the God’s manifestations and they believe that their heaven or hell depend on union with or separation from God. Islamic Mysticism, Happiness, Historical Developments, Heaven, Kindnes.