Reconceptualizing Epistemology in Islamic Mysticism: A Critical Analysis of Knowledge Through Presence in Mehdi Ha’iri Yazdi's Thought
Interdisciplinary Journal of Social Science and Education December 16, 2025 Ulpah Maspupah, Abdul W. Basit
Mystical knowledge in Islamic thought can be understood as direct, non-representational awareness rather than mere subjective intuition, according to Mehdi Ha’iri Yazdi’s concept of Knowledge through Presence (al-‘ilm al-huduri). Yazdi’s epistemological framework bridges classical Islamic illuminationist philosophy (hikmah al-ishraq) and contemporary philosophical discourse by emphasizing the existential unity between the knower and the known. The analysis of his work, *The Principles of Epistemology in Islamic Philosophy*, shows that his approach integrates rational analysis, metaphysical realism, and spiritual experience, offering an alternative to Western dualistic epistemologies. This model reaffirms the legitimacy of mystical consciousness as a valid source of knowledge in contemporary Islamic philosophy.