An Inquiry into the Origins of Suhrawardi's Poetic Thought Based on Ancient Esoteric Illuminative Texts

Abstract

Like the sages of ancient Iran, Suhrawardi chose poetry and allegorical narratives to convey the subtleties of intuitive Illuminative wisdom. He explicitly stated his intention to revive the thought of the sages of ancient Iran. This thinker employed a persuasive writing style and, through the creation of allegorical tales, artistically expressed his teachings in literary form, revealing reality. The present study seeks to answer this fundamental question: What is the relationship between the allegorical narratives of Illuminative wisdom and the thought of the sages of ancient Iran, and what role did these sages play in the creation of poetry and artistic works? Based on the findings of this research, Illuminative texts can be examined from two perspectives within the philosophy of poetic art. First, in terms of form and writing style, they present the fundamental elements of poetry, particularly imaginative elements. Additionally, from the perspective of content, meaning, and intrinsic elements, they share a deep-rooted connection with the essential components of Illuminative thought, namely consciousness, contemplation, and luminous knowledge. In his allegorical narratives, Suhrawardi designs a roadmap for connecting to the realm of imagination and acquiring intuitive knowledge. Through a dialectical exchange with the guiding intellect, he lays out the path for the seeker to receive the light of illumination. Thus, by exploring the imaginative realm and the allegorical elements in Suhrawardi’s narratives and conducting a comparative analysis with the archetypes in ancient esoteric Illuminative texts, a deeper understanding of Illuminative literary art can be attained.