History of Islamic Philosophy

History of Islamic Philosophy

Religion and Mysticism in philosophy of Avicenna: Non-Aristotelian Elements

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Institute for Islamic Culture and Thought
10.22034/hpi.2025.543553.1162
Abstract
Avicenna is the philosopher of Peripatetic Philosophy, and he has inherited some of foundations and principles of Aristotelian philosophy. But, Avicenna, in his Islamic philosophy, has transcended from Aristotle, and has presented other and further foundations and principles. Among new foundations that he has presented are his religion and mystical principles. Avicenna has talked, in his religion principles, from fivefold principles of Monotheism, Prophecy, Resurrection, Leadership(Imamate), and Justice: God has the whole qualities of perfection and is creature, originator, knower, and omnipotent; Divine Foreknowledge suitable being of prophet; Divine Foreknowledge suitable being of Resurrection; for prophet is better to attribute on his next leadership(imam) and caliph; and legislator must bring laws that invite to justice, that is moderation in affairs. Avicenna, in his mystical principles, insist on principles of hierarchy of causes and effects; principles of priority of knowledge and purification on arriving at active intellect and other intellects and, at last, on arriving at the most high God; and he talks, with detail, about true love and diffusion of love in whole world and things, from devotion and worship, from degrees of itinerary of spiritual path in arriving at the God, from mystical degrees of interior purification and exterior purification, and from spiritual dispositions of mystics.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 15 September 2025

  • Receive Date 27 August 2025
  • Revise Date 15 September 2025
  • Accept Date 15 September 2025