مبانی عرفانی زیبایی و هنر اسلامی

Islamic art has always been intertwined with a mystical vision, such that ignorance of this perspective hinders both the artist’s creative process and the audience’s appreciation, diverting them from the true path of Islamic art. In Islamic mysticism, the origin of beauty (husn) is God Himself, and all worldly beauty is a reflection of His divine beauty. When God descends from the stage of pure essence (dhat) and absolute simplicity (sirafat al-itlaq), His manifestations (tajalliyat) emerge, and these manifestations constitute His creation. The divine effusion (saryan) of His beauty permeates the world, and whoever beholds it falls in love with it.
The artist, as a seer of beauty (husn-bin) and a lover (ashiq), is also one who employs analogy (tashbih). They render divine beauty into tangible forms. Yet, because the artist is a lover, they are "selfless" (bi-khudi), and thus the ideal art in mysticism is "artless art" (honar-e bi honari)—art that transcends technique, arising from the artist’s annihilation of self and surpassing mere skill.
This article first elucidates key terms essential for understanding the mystical foundations of beauty and art, then explores the ideal artist and art from a mystical perspective.