Faith-Oriented Morality

 

(A comparative study of moral philosophy in Rumi’s and Kierkegaard’s thoughts)

 

 

Abstract                                                                                                                    

“Ethics” is one of the three branches of practical philosophy which Islamic philosophy borrowed from Greek philosophy. Following the issues such as divine justice, divine promise, determination and the like, Islamic theologians have been somehow involved with the issue of moral philosophy. This issue, even, can be considered as the distinguishing aspect of the two theological schools of Mo’tazeli and Ash’ari.                                                                                                                

 

Being as a Hanafi-Ash’ari Sunni, Molana Jalaleddin Mohammad Balkhi (Rumi) must follow the Ash’ari theological view in this issue. The aim of this essay is to measure Rumi’s views on ethics by citing some words from Masnavi in which he spoke about moral action. It will be concluded that Rumi, as a Suffi and by using a kind of poetic language, has developed the Ash’ari moral philosophy through a mystical approach in Masnavi.                                                                                   

 

Rumi’s views on ethics are not so dissimilar to the Nineteenth century Danish philosopher’s mystical thoughts: Soren Kierkegaard. Holding the three spheres for human life, i.e. aesthetic, ethical and religious spheres, he justifies some apparent human irrational actions. This means that for him “faith” has preference over “reason”. Comparing his views with Molana’s thoughts is the main concern of the present essay.                                                                                                              

 

Keywords:                                                                                                                  

Ash’ari theology, Rumi, Masnavi, moral philosophy, Nineteenth century philosophy, Kierkegaard