The Philosophy Of Illumination -(Hikamat al-Ishrāq by Shihāb al-Dīn al-Suhrawardī)

“Suhrawardī’s Hikmat al-Ishrāq (The Philosophy of Illumination)
This groundbreaking work is a cornerstone of Islamic thought - a luminous fusion of mysticism, logic, and ancient wisdom. At its heart lies the ‘science of lights,’ a path to truth that Suhrawardī first experienced through intense spiritual practice, then fortified with reason, and finally traced back to the timeless insights of sages long gone.

Born in 12th-century Iran, Suhrawardī was a visionary thinker who reshaped philosophy itself. A life-changing dream - where Aristotle himself appeared - led him to abandon the rigid frameworks of his time (like Avicenna’s Peripatetic school) and revive the primal wisdom of pre-Aristotelian giants like Plato. For him, true knowledge wasn’t just debated; it was seen in flashes of direct, timeless insight.

His philosophy defiantly bridges cultures: Persian kings, Egyptian mystics like Hermes Trismegistus, and even the righteous rulers of pre-Islamic Iran all find a place in his tapestry of truth. This translation, the first in English, masterfully balances the poetic depth and razor-sharp logic of his work, inviting readers into a world where logic and revelation dance as one.”

Why it matters:

• Rebel with a cause: Suhrawardī’s anti-establishment stance challenges dogma, urging us to seek truth beyond textbooks.

• Universal wisdom: His vision ties together threads from Persia, Greece, and Egypt, proving enlightenment knows no borders.

• Timeless relevance: A reminder that some truths—like light itself—transcend eras, speaking to seekers today as fiercely as they did centuries ago.