Study of the Concepts of Illuminated Arrays in Islamic Mysticism and its Relevance to the Content of the Quran

• Main Authors: Asghar Kafshchian Moghadam, Fatemeh Gholami Houjeghan
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi 2019-08-01
• Series: کتابداری و اطلاع‌رسانی
• Subjects: illuminated arrays; islamic and iranian mysticism; quran
• Online Access: http://lis.aqr-libjournal.ir/article_86101_475510341575cb9a217fb95ef1ddbd38.pdf

<strong>Objective:</strong> The current research, explains the relation between the concepts of illuminated arrays with the text of Quran and the mysticism texts of Iran. In other words, the main concern of this research is the discovery of the possible origin of arrays such as, ornamental loop (shamseh), oval medallion (Toranj), frontispiece (sarloh), frieze (katibeh), margin, cornice (shorafeh or sharafeh), as well as their relationship with Islamic and Iranian mysticism and its relevance to the content of the Quran. <br /><strong>Approach/ Research method:</strong> This is an applied research that based on inductive method and a descriptive and analytical approach that evaluates the Quran's Illumination arrays. <br /><strong>Findings:</strong> The abundance of related words in the Qur'anic text is very interesting. Words are associated with the lighting, include 8 items: 1- Noor (light) with 43 items; 2- Shams (Sun) with 32 cases; 3- Ghamar (moon) with 27 items; 4- Najm (star) with 13 cases; 5- Kowkab (star) with 3 items; 6- Ziya (brilliancy or light) with 3 items; 7- Mesbah (Lamp) with 3 cases; 8- Meshkat (kind of lantern or light) with 1 item. Also the words are associated with the nature, include 2 items: 1- Bahr (sea) with 41 items and 2- Shajare (Tree) with 27 items. On the other hand, some words have both this world meaning and other world meaning such as Ghalam (pen) with 2 items; and some words are not tangible to humans and related to the hereafter, such as Tuba (name of tree in Paradise) with 1 item. Not only the count of Qur’anic words related to Illumination arrays, but also the deep mystical concepts of these words in mystical texts of Iranshows a close connection between the arrays of illumination and the Qur'anic content. But this connection was indirect and presented in the context of abstract motifs. In the meantime, mystical texts are the best decoder of this hidden connection. <br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Regarding the frequency of Qur’anic words related to Illumination arrays as well as matching the mystical meanings of these words with Iranian mysticism, it can be said that the illuminator is inspired by the Qur'anic text to the depiction of illuminated arrays and by adapting these patterns to Iranian-Islamic mysticism, and they are chosen abstract shapes and arrays so that way for realization and expression of the mysterious manifestation of Holy Quran.