Applying the Integrated Sufi Exegesis Model (ISEM) to Analyze the Meaning of Life in Sufi Quranic Commentaries: Bridging Tradition and Modernity

In an era defined by existential uncertainties and a global quest for purpose, the meaning of life remains a pressing concern across cultures. Islamic mysticism, particularly Sufi interpretations of the Quran, offers profound insights into this question through concepts such as fana (annihilation in God), qurb (divine proximity), tajalli (divine manifestation), and wahdat al-wujud (unity of existence). This study introduces the Integrated Sufi Exegesis Model (ISEM), a novel framework combining textual-historical, phenomenological, discursive, and social network analyses, to explore how Sufi Quranic commentaries articulate life’s purpose. These components enable a comprehensive analysis of texts within their historical, experiential, and social contexts. Drawing on key commentaries, including al-Qushayri’s Lata’if al-Isharat, Ruzbihan Baqli’s ‘Ara’is al-Bayan, Ibn al-‘Arabi’s Fusus al-Hikam, and Rumi’s Masnavi, alongside historical sources like The History of Nishapur, the study examines how Sufi concepts address existential purpose in diverse regions (Nishapur, Shiraz, Andalusia, Konya). The findings reveal that Sufi exegesis frames life’s meaning as a journey toward divine unity, offering responses to modern existential challenges that resonate with meaning-centered psychology and systems-based philosophies. By bridging classical Islamic thought with contemporary issues, this study contributes to interdisciplinary dialogues on purpose and well-being, aligning with Islamic perspectives on human concerns.

کلیدواژه ها:

Meaning of life ، Sufi Quranic exegesis ، Integrated Sufi Exegesis Model (ISEM) ، wahdat al-wujud ، Islamic mysticism ، existential psychology