Is Esoteric Islamic Spirituality Mysticism? Sufism, Ishrāqī Philosophy, and the Limitations of Religious Studies Theories
Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies January 1, 2022 Rebecca Makas
Islamic esoteric traditions such as Sufism and Ishrāqī philosophy are often labeled "mysticism," yet scholars of Islam and case studies of Muslim mystics are largely absent from the debates that shape the conceptual understanding of mysticism in religious studies. This exclusion risks perpetuating outdated stereotypes of Islam as a merely legalistic tradition. The article traces how defining a universal mystical experience has led to prescriptive definitions that exclude much of Islamic spirituality, describes how Islamicists have critiqued these models without offering a viable solution, and suggests that bringing Islam into the discourse will enrich theoretical perspectives on mysticism and religion.