Divine Love and its Relationship with the Sufi Path (Sair wa Suluk)

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Hussein Rasan Abdul-Hussein Al-Lami

Abstract

This research examines and elucidates the reciprocal relationship between Divine Love and the methodology of Spiritual Wayfaring (Al-Sayr wa al-Suluk) within the Sufi tradition. The study begins by investigating the historical origins of the divine bond in ancient human thought، where "fear" was the primary mediator. It then traces the ontological shift where this fear evolves into profound love and "Ishq" (passionate longing) through the attainment of Divine Cognition (Ma'rifa).


The Sufi perspective posits that love is an epistemological consequence: as the seeker’s knowledge of the Divine deepens، their love intensifies. This spiritual dynamic is structurally manifested through the ethical and cognitive framework known as the "Four Journeys" (Al-Asfar al-Arba'a). The study concludes with a synthesis of findings that underscore how love serves as both the catalyst and the ultimate destination of the spiritual path.

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