Iranian Thoughts in Ibn Arabi’s Mysticism

in this paper, it is attempted to highlight the ancient living Iranian thoughts which have entered the Muslims’ mysticism. The current paper has a subject-oriented method and does not address the historical relations of thoughts. In other words, the purpose is not to delineate the identity of ideas. Rather, it is attempted to trace these ideas in ancient Iran. In addition, to avoid a confusion of ideas as well as a historical survey of the circulation of mystical ideas amongst the mystics, only Ibn Arabi’s mysticism (as a point of theoretical mysticism amongst the Muslims at which mystical ideas are systematically conjoined) was selected and discussed in this paper. In addition, the term ‘theoretical’ tends to omit ‘practical’ mysticism. In this paper, some of the macro-notions which are the foundations of the Muslims’ mysticism including names and attributes, immutable entities and the world of imagination, the perfect man, and the oneness of being (which is the heart of these concepts) are investigated. Before this, their parallel correspondences in Iranian philosophy, i.e. Amesha Spentas, Zurvan, Faravahars, and the primitive man are discussed. It will be concluded from all these discussions that the main foundations of the Muslims’ mysticism are more or less a exegesis to Iranian philosophy.