Analysis of Epistemic Experiences in Mystical Prose Texts (With a Focus on Nūr al-ʿUlūm, al-Nūr, and Tamhīdāt)

Abstract

Mystical experiences are a form of direct awareness of the presence of God or the transcendent truth, which the mystic attains through methods such as meditation, seclusion, remembrance (dhikr), asceticism, and divine love. These experiences emerge through detachment from worldly dependencies and deep internal focus, leading to a state in which the mystic perceives a sense of unity with the universe. The primary factor in the occurrence of these experiences is the removal of physical veils from the mystic’s perception. Attributes such as "ineffability," "passivity," "epistemic quality," and "transience" have been identified as common features of most mystical experiences. Although these experiences are ineffable, their manifestations can be observed in the behavior, speech, and works of mystics. A shift in perspective on life, increased tranquility, and detachment from materialism are among the outcomes of such experiences. Each mystic, in the role of an "experiencer," influenced by the dominance of a particular linguistic function, represents their mystical experiences—either directly or indirectly—in various states, including wakefulness, dreams, and intermediate states between sleep and wakefulness.

This study employs a descriptive-analytical method, focusing on Nūr al-ʿUlūm, al-Nūr, and Tamhīdāt by ʿAyn al-Quḍāt. The author examines the "nature of mystical experiences" and the "ways of recognizing epistemic experiences," aiming to illustrate the landscape of these experiences and immerse the audience in the flow of the narrative.