A Survey of Hazarāt-i Vujūd (the Excellencies of Existence) from the View of Dihlavī and Shankara

Hazarāt-i Vujūd (the excellencies of existence) in the Islamic mysticism of Bīdil Dihlavī- a mystic, poet, and representative of the Indian style- is in a linear and descending system based on the theory of unity of being explained within the framework of the status of essence, oneness, and uniqueness. Although Bīdil is bought up in India, he is one of the intellectual followers of Muhy id-Dīn ibn Arabī. Shankara is also one of the most notable interpreters of Vedanta’s school or India’s divine philosophy. According to Indian thinking, the four states of Ātman include Jagrat (waking), Swapna (dreaming), Sushupti (deep sleep), and Turiya (unconditional Ātman). These four stages of existence are comparable to Hazarāt-i Vujūd in Islamic mysticism. Using a descriptive-analytic method and library means, the present article makes a comparison between the perspectives of Bīdil and Shankara about the quadruplet worlds of existence. According to the results, the realm of mysticism dealing with the most inner aspects of a human paves the way for a common perception between religious and instinctive instructions of different ethnic groups; and in addition to the similarities between the theories, we can also discern their differences. The most distinction between Hazarāt-i Vujūd in Bīdil’s Islamic mysticism and Shankara’s Indian style is that although both have a linear and descending course, the foundation of Bīdil’s mysticism is based on divinity and genuine oneness of God whereas in Shanka’s Indian mysticism, the emphasis is on Ātman or the real self.