Intertextual reading of the descending and ascending course of the soul in the works of Plotin and Najmuddin Razi

Abstract

Introduction

The theory of intertextuality deals with the presence of one or more texts in other texts. Intertextual reading relies on the texts in front of the readers. One of the mystical topics of interest is the descending and ascending course of the soul from its original home and returning to it. Mystic Najmuddin Razi from the seventh century and Greco-Egyptian philosopher and mystic Plotin mentioned this issue in their works. The main goal of this research is to perform an intertextual reading of their works. The analysis will be descriptive and analytical. Despite Razi's criticism of philosophers and some of their opinions, in intertextual reading about the course of the soul, we see many similarities between his texts and Plotinus on the mentioned subject. They have discussed topics such as the concept of the descent and ascent course of the soul, its descent in joining the body, the effect of divine rapture and love for ascending, the immortality of the soul, and the diversity of souls in this process. They have also mentioned the emergence of hijab and committing sins as obstacles to the ascending of the soul. Additionally, self-awareness and flourishing are important aspects of the soul's ascending journey. Despite Razi's many references to verses and hadiths, his findings about the descending and ascending course of the soul are a blend of philosophical expression and mystical findings.

Methodology

This research is based on analytical-descriptive methods and has a qualitative approach. Library sources have been used to collect information. First, the topics related to the descending and ascending of the soul in the Enneads or (the scripts of Plotinus) translated by Muhammad Hasan Lotfi and works of Najmodin Razi likeMersadolebad, Manarat al Sairin, resale eshgh o aghl (Love and intellect treatise), Marmuzate (secrets) Asadi, had been gathered and then the common sites between them had been mentioned. Considering that Razi doesn't explicitly refer to Plotinus and his works and thoughts, the presence of Plotinus's text in NajmRazi's works is the perception of the reader, and the intertextual approach to their works is perceivable. Also since the original language of Plotinus'sworks and Najm Razi's are not the same, the reader studied intertextualconnection based on common content.

Discussion

Intertextuality theory is the idea that all scripts are connected to each other. This theory was first introduced by Kristeva (1941), who was influenced by Bakhtin'stheory of conversationally. Other theorists later developed the concept.According to intertextuality theory, no script is independently written or understood, as every script is created based on previous ones. "( Namvar Motlagh – Kangarani, 2009: 79)  There is a connection between the works of writers who discuss the journey of the soul. In spiritual contexts, existence is believed to have an aim, and that aim is the source. The flow of existence is imagined in a circular turning.
Plotinus (204-270 AC) was a Neoplatonic philosopher who was influenced by previous philosophers such as Plato. He was born in Egypt, learned philosophy in Alexandria, and died later. His student Porphyry gathered his notes. Plotinus was familiar with Indian and ancient Iranian mystics. Najmodin Razi (573-654 AH), also known as Dayeh, was a prominent mystic of the late 7th Hijri century. He was born in Rey and was one of Sheikh Najmodin Kabir's students. He left numerous works in Persian and Arabic.
Razi criticized philosophers explicitly, but despite their differences, his beliefs were similar to Plotinus. However, these similarities do not necessarily mean that one was influenced by the other. Razi's disagreements with philosophers were based on his knowledge, which adds value to the current text. Philosophers view existence through intellect and reason. One of the reasons Razi conflicts with philosophers is that he does not consider reason as the only tool to comprehend the truth. Instead, he emphasizes sharia (religion), verve, or intuition. Plotinus also regards intuition in addition to reason. Through intertextual reading, the hidden layers of Razi's context with Plotinus are revealed.

Conclusion

According to this, despite the obvious opposition of Najm Razi with philosophers, in intertextual reading some similarities with philosophers' opinions are seen. Although he expressed all his thoughts by referring to Verses, Hadiths, and Islamic narrations; sometimes the content of his words are the philosophers' concepts. The presence of Plotinus's thoughts in Najmodin Razi's books about the descension and ascension of the soul is obvious. Both Plotinus and Najm Razi believe in the descension of the soul from a source and its return to it.They consider the soul joining the body as the descension which causes coverage and forgetting the origin universe. Each one considers factors like divine rapture and love, as important and necessary for the ascension of the soul. They believe that the soul exists before the body and it's immortal. The soul's journey is not voluntary and souls are different in descension and ascension. They both mentioned body and sin as the obstacles in the way of the ascension of the soul. The acquisition of real knowledge and the development of talents are also mentioned by them as the reason for the descending and ascending course of the soul.