The Comparative Study of Attar's Sheikh of San an and Goethe's Faust

The following article is a comparative study of Attar’s Sheik of San’an and Goethe’s Faust. Both stories demonstrate a similarity of theme and structure as they call upon the reader to discover the external world through journey and have a deeper conception of his inner self via meditation and contemplation; though it is true that Attar and Goethe have different worldviews and that they belong to two diametrically opposed epochs. They have a similar conception of certain things and have therefore used a certain structure to express them. Furthermore, both stories express religious themes in a new way that transcends the tradition. The author has also tried to show that the Islamic mysticism might have been a source of inspiration for Goethe.