A Comparative Study of Nature and place of Solitude and Seclusion in the Path of Mysticism (with an Emphasis on the Ehaya al-Uloom Ghazali and Manazel al-Saarerin Khwaja Abdullah Ansari)

Solitude and seclusion in Ghazali and Ansari's expression is a general concept without any Sufi traditions. In fact, according to these two mystics, seclusion is a way of life that continues continuously until the end of the seeker's life. This present research, with a descriptive-analytical approach, has dealt with a comparative investigation of the place of solitude and seclusion in the course of mysticism (Ghazali’s Ehaya al-Uloom and Khwaja Abdullah Ansari’s Manazel al-Saarerin). The result of this research indicates that Ghazali, as a mystic, was able to highlight isolation and avoidance of people well and show that real and true happiness is in seclusion and solitude, and the benefits of this seclusion are like remaining in the presence of God and treatment of physical diseases and acquisition of knowledge is considered. Ansari has a different view of solitude and considers it a means of self-knowledge and returning to oneself, although he has common points such as the benefits of isolation and avoiding people for solitude compared to Ghazali, Ansari's view is expressed in the form of awareness and punishment, exile and reflection.