Journal of Contemporary Studies on Religion and Science (JCSRS)
The Man, Woman and Islamic Mystical tradition
Document Type : Original Article
Abstract
Within the tradition of Islamic mysticism, the figure of woman embodies a complex metaphysical and epistemological significance that extends beyond gender differentiation. The exploration of woman’s nature in this context reveals her as a manifestation of multiplicity, creativity, and divine self-disclosure. Ontologically, the feminine symbolizes the unfolding of unity into plurality—the dynamic through which divine reality becomes perceivable in the world. From an epistemological perspective, the feminine principle is associated with imaginative cognition and intuitive perception, serving as a source of inspiration, revelation, and visionary insight. Such modes of knowing, grounded in inner experience, connect the feminine dimension to wisdom understood as the integration of contemplation and divine action. Practically, women in the mystical tradition are portrayed as mediators of divine attributes, translating metaphysical realities into lived experience. Through inspiration and spiritual intuition, they engage with the hidden dimensions of knowledge and embody the capacity for guidance and transformation. In this sense, the feminine in Islamic mysticism represents not passivity or subordination, but an active locus of wisdom, creativity, and spiritual authority within the unfolding of divine knowledge.
