Hafez's Aesthetic Experience as a Spiritual Experience

Mahdavinejad, Malihe; Javanaraste, Amir; Talkhabi, Hamid

doi:10.22034/rph.2025.2048252.1089

Hafez's Aesthetic Experience as a Spiritual Experience

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Malihe Mahdavinejad ¹

Amir Javanaraste ²

Hamid Talkhabi ³

¹ PhD Candidate in Religious Arts Wisdom, University of Religions, Qom, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Mysticism, Faculty of Mysticism, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran.

³ Assistant Professor, Department of Performing Arts, Institute of Higher Education in Art and Thought, Qom, Iran.

10.22034/rph.2025.2048252.1089

Abstract

Aesthetic experience, along with its nature and dimensions, is one of the key concerns of scholars in the philosophy of art and aesthetics in contemporary discourse, where much attention is directed toward the artist and the artwork as the medium of the aesthetic experience. The primary focus of this research is to examine the nature of the unique aesthetic experience manifested in the works of Hafez. As one of the unparalleled and original figures in the artistic heritage of this land, Hafez is widely regarded not only as a master poet but also, according to many, as "Lesan al-Ghaib" (the Tongue of the Unseen) and a recipient of divine inspirations. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of his aesthetic experience, to illuminate the role of mysticism and spirituality in refining the aesthetic vision of artists, holds significant scholarly importance. Based on this, the central question of this research is: What dimensions characterize Hafez’s aesthetic experience within the context of his mystical perception, and how can it be interpreted? This question has been investigated through library-based resources using a descriptive-analytical method and the perspectives of experts in aesthetics, literature, and mysticism. The findings suggest that three key aspects underpin Hafez’s aesthetic experience: the breadth and depth of his perceptions, a loving presence in the world and closeness to existence and its hierarchies, and a profound connection with the concept of unity as explained in Islamic mysticism. These elements, deeply intertwined with the essence of existence and evident in Hafez’s poetry and aesthetic outlook, allow his aesthetic experience to be regarded as a spiritual one, achieved through his complete unity with the singular divine truth. Hafez perceives all phenomena in the world as beautifully arranged manifestations that serve solely to narrate the singular visage of divine truth. Through this lens, his profound mystical unity, intersecting with his artistic aesthetic experience, produces a luminous and spiritual form of aesthetic experience.

Keywords

Aesthetic Experience

Hafez

Mystical Unity

Work of Art

Islamic Mysticism

Subjects

wisdom and art

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