The “Perfect Human” in Arabic and Persian mystical literature till Hafez's era

The concept of the “chr('39')Perfect Human” has been presented in various forms in monotheistic religions and different mystical sects. The subject of the creation of the man, in the form of God discussed in the Old Testament, and the perfection of the all prophets such as Noah, in that book show the familiarity of Jewish and Christian worlds with god-like and superior human beings; an attitude presented in the medieval Christian philosophy. Thus, the “Perfect Human” is the one who has reached the perfection and looks like God, unlike the imperfect human who lacks this quality and is not like God. In this article, first of all the views of monotheistic and mystical religions about the concept of the chr('39')chr('39')Perfect Human" are examined and then, this concept is explored in Arabic and Persian literary-mystical works and finally analyzed in order to clarify the differences and similarities between pure religious and mystical ideas. Unlike the popular belief considering Mohi-ud-Din Ibn Arabi as the founder of the theory of the “Perfect human”, this concept has been discussed in monotheistic religions, Islamic mysticism, and the works of medieval mystics. Ibn Arabi expressed this concept in a systematic and extensive way. Among the litterateur mystics: Al-Neffari, Sanai, Meybodi, Ibn Arabi, Rumi, Sheikh Mahmoud Shabestari and Hafez have expressed his characteristic beliefs and thoughts.