Today, we study the status of acclaimed Iranian philosopher, Shahab Ed-Din Sohrawardi, in the view of Western thinkers and philosophers, and the extent of their familiarity with this celebrated Iranian philosopher.
The renowned and preeminent Iranian philosopher, Sheikh Shahab Ed-Din Sohrawardi, highly contributed to development of Islamic philosophy and mysticism and is the founder of one of the most important Islamic philosophy schools of thought, “Illuminism”.
He was born in Sohraward Village in the vicinity of city of Zanjan in the year 549 AH and was killed upon the conspiracy of scholars in Aleppo with the order of the Founder of Ayoubi Dynasty, Salah Ed-Din Ayoubi. Fifty of his works have remained to this day. Some of the works penned by this famed Iranian philosopher are allegorical and cryptic treatises and tales, which in the view of researchers reflect the true image of this great Iranian philosopher and mystic. Previously, some of his works in Farsi language were introduced and researched.
This well-established philosopher also paved the way for emergence of Isfahan School of Thought; given that many Iranian philosophers such as Mirdamad and Molla Sadra were highly inspired and influenced by Sohrawardi’s philosophical school of thought.
In addition to being an innovative thinker, Sohrawardi is also skilled in combination of the thoughts and views of others, and presentation of a novel idea. He has left behind a unique philosophical school of thought, referred to as “Illuminism” and has also penned major writings on pure Sufism. It can be said that the multi-faceted nature of his works has encouraged countless philosophers to take into consideration and study his books in recent years.
One cannot name a pioneer of studies on the works of Sohrawardi in the West. However, based on existing evidences, it can be said that German philosophers carried out the initial studies on Sohrawardi’s works in the waning years of the past century. Meanwhile, following the termination of World War II, the French and English researchers continued studies in this realm. Additionally, numerous Spanish and Italian researchers are currently researching the works and thoughts of this celebrated Iranian philosopher. Moreover, Iranian researchers such as Seyed Hassan Nasr have taken major strides for introduction of this famed Iranian philosopher in the books which they have authored in English and French languages. Furthermore, a large number of studies have been carried out in the Arab World and Indian Subcontinent on the works of Sohrawardi.
The famous historian of religions, Mircea Eliade, in his signature book, ha attached paramount importance to Sohrawardi’s mystic thoughts, and has named the latter as of the most prominent Muslim philosophers.
Alongside the scattered studies which have been carried out in Germany on Sohrawardi’s books, a major research has been conducted by German researcher, Max Horton, on Illuminism School of Thought, which in fact summarizes the features of this school of thought in German language, in addition to presentation of the commentaries of Molla Sadra on this school of thought. Horton’s studies and works are a source of reference for the contemporary German philosophers who research Sohrawardi’s works.
The oldest book on Sohrawardi has been written by Carra de Vaux in French language in the year 1902, under the title of “La Philosophie illuminative” which discusses Illuminism School of Thought. Mention can be made of Henry Corbin among the next generation of French researchers, who studied the works of this famed Iranian philosopher. Meanwhile, Corbin has largely contributed to studies conducted in the West on Islamic philosophy. Corbin’s writings are of significant importance in the West and Iran, both. Corbin has in fact translated and introduced the majority of the works of Sohrawardi to the international community. Corbin’s most important conduct is his study on the major philosophical works of Sohrawardi, which has been published in two volumes.
Moreover, in Corbin’s work entitled: “The Man of Light in Iranian Sufism” discussions have been made on Sohrawardi.
The spiritual findings of Sohrawardi shape the theme of an article penned by Corbin, titled as “Mysticism and Ethics in View of Sohrawardi”. He has also presented a precise analysis of the life and thoughts of Sohrawardi in the book titled: Sohrawardi, Founder of Illuminism School of Thought.
Corbin has also groomed students who developed an interest in the study of the works and thoughts of Sohrawardi.
Among the other works in French language, which have honored the role played by Sohrawardi, mention can be made of the signature book of French researcher, George Anawati, in which the author has named Sohrawardi as the follower of Iranian-Islamic genius, Avicenna.
Louis Gardet is another researcher which has highly contributed to introduction of Sohrawardi in the West. This French researcher has written several articles for introduction of Sohrawardi to Europeans. In his book on Sohrawardi and Islamic culture, he has compared Farabi’s philosophy with Sohrawardi’s philosophy.
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