Abstract

Gnostic theology is in contrast to rational-natural and revelatory-historical theologies. Natural theology, rational theology, revelatory theology, transmitted theology, and gnostic theology are all intuitive. While being intuitive, gnostic theology in Islam benefits from rational analysis, on the one hand, and uses the light of the guidance of revelation, on the other. The result of using the intellect is the transmission and discovery of a theology that, while having its own method, structure, concepts, and explanations, is in harmony with the intellect and Shar'. In the light of a mystic journey rooted in Shari'ah, the gnostic attains a kind of direct hearty knowledge and insight of God, and, in this way, becomes needless of any rational argument on the demonstration of the existence of God. He reaches such a level of certainty upon which there is no stain of doubt and ambiguity. Since God's Essence is pure and infinite, and since it is impossible for anyone to reach it, most of the discussions in gnostic theology center on the names and attributes of Almighty Truth. Therefore, the main task of Islamic gnostic theology is studying His Names and Attributes. Since the world is nothing but the manifestation of the names of the Truth, gnostic theology is cosmology at the same time. In this paper, the writer has tried to present a brief analysis of this divine school.