The Philosophy of Divine Love: A Comparative Study of Sufi Mysticism and Bhakti Movement
Revista Review Index Journal of Multidisciplinary March 31, 2024 Sk Abdul Hamid
Divine love in Sufi mysticism and the Bhakti movement transforms the seeker and fosters moral virtues, though each tradition conceives it differently. Sufi mystics view divine love (ʿIshq e Haqiqi) as a force that dissolves the ego and joins the seeker with the transcendent Absolute, cultivating spiritual insight. The Bhakti tradition emphasizes a personal, relational devotion (prema) toward a deity, integrating emotional closeness with communal practice. Both traditions use poetry, ritual, and devotional activities to promote individual spiritual fulfillment and communal harmony. The essay argues that divine love is not merely a devotional feeling but a dynamic ethical and spiritual principle with ongoing relevance for fostering empathy, moral behavior, and social unity in modern contexts marked by cultural diversity and existential uncertainty.