The Origin and Background of Illuminationist Philosophy

The present paper studies the origin and background of Sheikh Shahab al-din Sohrevardi’s Illuminationist attitude and depicts its ancient root and precedence. His attitude is a kind of philosophy whose thrust is mystic experience and intuition, and logical and intellectual thinking. Self-knowledge and knowledge of soul which can only be attained through ascetic discipline and purification of inner state is the key for correct understanding of this philosophy. The present paper proves that there are several and different origins and backgrounds for philosophical school of illuminationism including the Holy Quran, Holy Prophet’s way of life, philosophy of ancient Iran, Hellenic philosophy, Aristotelian philosophy, mysticism, Sufism, etc. Illuminationist philosophy uses all these foundations and resources, and combines and gathers them in itself by its particular system-making and engineering. Among other main resources of this philosophy are Sohrevardi’s inner inspirations, witnesses and unveilings as he himself asserted.