Reduction and expansion of  self and other in three movement of Sufism

Mozaffari, Alireza

doi:10.22054/ltr.2025.81323.3889

Reduction and expansion of self and other in three movement of Sufism

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Alireza Mozaffari

Department of Persian language and Literature. Faculty of Humanities . Urmia university

10.22054/ltr.2025.81323.3889

Abstract

In general, three main movements can be distinguished in the history of Sufism and mysticism. The most formal and traditional form of Sufism, which is known as "Pious Sufism" in the sources, is the oldest form of Sufism. In the following article this movement be referred to as "Traditional Sufism" or "Ethical Sufism". The distinguishing feature of this movement was asceticism and the creation of new customs and traditions to distinguish oneself from the rest of the Muslims. The circle of "self" in this movement is a small circle and its content is mainly formed by their deprivations. "Scholarly Sufism" emerged when Sufism was able to capture the realm of the minds of the scholars of the society. This "sufism" was a completely subjective thing that was discussed and propagated in schools and scientific schools. The circle of "self" of this movement was a wide circle that could include everything that would guide them in intellectual and cognitive guidance towards knowing God. When Sufism took over the minds of potential and actual poets, a movement emerged that was previously referred to as "Sufism or romantic mysticism"; Considering the inevitable predominance of poetic drives in their minds, the author suggests the title "Sufism or poetic mysticism" for it. The circle of "self" of the followers of this movement is accumulated by the indeterminate things due to their poetic mind, with the indeterminacy of their "I". For them, "God" is beloved because it does not come under any determinative rule.

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