Illumination, Transcendence, and the Wisdom of Enlightenment: A Study of Suhrawardī’s the Temples of Light

Abstract

This study provides an in-depth exploration of Shihāb al-Dīn al-Suhrawardī's Ḥikmat al-Ishrāq (Philosophy of Illumination) as articulated in his seminal work, The Temples of Light. Through a detailed analysis of primary texts and comparative frameworks, the research examines Suhrawardī's metaphysical vision of light and darkness as the foundational principles of existence, his hierarchical cosmology, and the role of spiritual enlightenment (ishrāq) in attaining divine knowledge. The study employs a multidisciplinary methodology, combining textual analysis, historical contextualization, and comparative philosophical inquiry to uncover Suhrawardī's synthesis of Greek, Persian, and Islamic intellectual traditions. The goal is to elucidate how Suhrawardī harmonized rational philosophy with mystical intuition, providing a cohesive framework for understanding the nature of being and the human journey toward the Divine. This research contributes to the broader discourse on Islamic philosophy and mysticism by emphasizing Suhrawardī’s enduring influence on later thinkers such as Ibn ʿArabī and Mullā Ṣadrā, while also situating his work within the global intellectual heritage of metaphysical inquiry.