Sühreverdî ve İşrâkî Düşünce Kodları

Suhrawardi and the Codes of Ishraqi Thought
This study aims to reveal, through a holistic approach, the fundamental
pillars of the Illuminationist philosophy (Hikmat al-Ishraq) that Shihab
al-Din Suhrawardi revived by drawing upon ancient traditions, as well
as the internal relationship between these elements. Suhrawardi’s Illuminationist
system of thought is built upon complementary ontological,
epistemological, and psychological elements that constitute the core codes
of his philosophy.
Located at the center of the system, the concept of light (nur) points
to a truth that transcends the limits of formal and definition-oriented
knowledge. The path to attaining this truth is the method of intuitive
connection (shuhudi ittisal), which relies on direct visionary experience.
This intuitive connection necessitates the concept of the soul (nafs),
which acts as both the essential truth of the human being and the bearer
of this vision. In this context, the ontological and epistemological
bond established among light, knowledge, and the soul determines the
structure of Illuminationist philosophy. Suhrawardi reinforces the internal
consistency of his system by incorporating the Imaginal World
(Alam al-Mithal) into this framework.
Arguing that the soul can observe the metaphysical light through intuitive
connection, Suhrawardi refers to prominent figures from ancient
Persian, ancient Greek, and Islamic intellectual traditions, particularly
Hermes. He places these figures on a hierarchical plane based on the
nature of their relationship with the metaphysical light. At the highest
level of this hierarchy stands the “divine sage” (hakim-i muta’allih),
representing a philosopher who has achieved both theoretical and practical
perfection.
In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the coherence among Suhrawardi’s
concepts, sources, ontology, and epistemology produces an
original system of thought. Consequently, Suhrawardi’s intellectual
journey and his status as the “divine sage” who revitalized Illuminationist
philosophy play a critical role in understanding the formative
process of Illuminationist thought.
Keywords: Light; Experiential Connection; Soul (Nafs); Divine Sage,
Suhrawardi; Ishraqi Wisdom; Ishraqi Philosophy