Abstract

AL-GHAZALI’S MYSTICAL INTERPRETATION OF VERSE OF LIGHT The verse 35th of the surah 24th of the Quran, better known as Verse of Light is one of the part of Holy Book of Islam, which was frequently interpreted by Muslim mystics. Its rich symbolism causes that many scholars tried to decipher its hidden meaning. This verse was an inspiration for such thinkers as Ibn ‘Arabi or As-Suhrawardi. The treaty of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Niche of Lights, is an example of systematic exegesis of this part of the Quran. In this work the mystical deliberations are strictly connected to his ontological and epistemological investigations. In his opinion, the true meaning of verse of Light can be understood only by the mystics, because no one but them can acquire knowledge of God’s secrets. They comprehend that God is the real Light, while the one which we can be perceived with our eyes is only His emanation. In Al-Ghazali’s opinion, reality has two levels: physical and divine. They are both strictly connected to each other and the sensual world is a symbolic reflection of the superior world. Al-Ghazali states that the mystic, who gained the union with God and received some knowledge of reality, can see that nothing except Transcendence has a true existence, because only He exists through His essence, while every created thing has two aspects: one, which is turned to itself and the other one which is turned to God. We can call them a being, only when we consider them as turned to Absolute, but if we consider them while they are turned to itself, they are non-being.