Abstract

Mawlana Jalal al-Din Balkhi’s approach to the possibility of knowing God and its method can be of significance due to Mawlana’s accessibility to the heritage of various theological, philosophical and mystical dispositions. In his works, two apparently opposite positions can be observed: disability of intellect in knowing God and the possibility of such knowledge for human beings. The analysis of Mawlana’s opinions in both positions reveals that man’s discursive intellect fails to know the Divine’s essence and attributes but at the same time God’s accomplishments particularly His commands are means by which man’s experience of the divine presence can be facilitated. That is why Mawlana investigates into man’s position to the divine commands. Such position is particularly based on a certain type of religious experience in the Islamic culture. Dimensions of Mawlana’s analysis are revealed when compared with Tillich’s viewpoint on types of religiosity and medium in the religious experiences.