نوع مقاله : علمی- پژوهشی
Analysis of the Philosophical Foundations of Prayer in Persian Poetry (with a Focus on the Principles of Transcendent Theosophy)
Mohammad Javad Jafari Zadeh 1, Vahideh Fakhar Noghani 2*, Amir Rastin Toroghi 3
1 Graduated master degree in Islamic philosophy and wisdom, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Associate professor of Department of Islamic Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.*
3 Assistant Professor of Department of Islamic Philosophy, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
ABSTRACT: Prayer, which is the dialogue between human and God, although often regarded by most believers as a simple conversation, is in fact grounded in profound theological, ontological, and anthropological principles. These foundations have been manifested not only in philosophical and theological works but also in the poetry of Persian poets. This study—an interdisciplinary inquiry between Islamic philosophy and Persian literature—employs a descriptive–analytical method with a philosophical approach to examine Mulla Sadra’s foundations on the issue of prayer and their connection to the works of Persian-speaking poets. Drawing upon Mulla Sadra’s ontological and anthropological principles, the research presents a comprehensive philosophical framework on prayer, the reflections of which can be traced in Persian poetry. The findings indicate that the contributions of Transcendent Theosophy to the issue of prayer encompass ten philosophical principles that exhibit extensive overlap and harmony with the themes found in the works of Persian poets: (1) the efficacy of prayer as one of the causal factors within the order of existence; (2) the necessity of fulfilling conditions and removing obstacles for prayer to be answered; (3) the non-independence of prayer in its effect; (4) prayer as a manifestation of divine enablement (tawfīq); (5) the intrinsic desirability of prayer; (6) the innate nature of prayer; (7) the compatibility of divine decree (qaḍāʾ) and prayer; (8) the gradational nature of prayer; (9) the role of divine wisdom in the acceptance of prayer; and (10) the ontological prayer of all beings. Ultimately, after establishing the deep harmony and connection between the three dimensions of prayer, philosophical foundations, and poets’ works, it is concluded that the “teachings of Transcendent Theosophy” and “the poetry of Muslim poets” spring from the same source—namely, the essence of wisdom embedded in the revealed teachings.
KEYWORDS: Prayer, Persian Literature, Islamic Philosophy, Mulla Sadra, Transcendent Theosophy
