Mystical Approaches to Prophetic Biography: Methodologies of Sufi Scholars in Seerah Literature

Abstract

This research explores the distinctive methodologies and stylistic approaches employed by Sufi scholars in presenting the Sirah (biographical literature) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Diverging from conventional historiographical and legalistic narratives, Sufi interpretations emphasize the spiritual, symbolic, and metaphysical dimensions of the Prophet’s life. Central to their portrayals are themes such as tazkiyah (purification of the soul), divine love, and inner enlightenment. The study analyzes the contributions of seminal Sufi figures including Imam al-Ghazali, Ibn ʿArabi, Jalal al-Din Rumi, and ʿAbd al-Qadir al-Jilani, illustrating how they elevate the Prophet (PBUH) from a historical personality to a cosmic and spiritual archetype. Key texts such as Ihyaʾ ʿUlum al-Din, Fusus al-Hikam, and the Masnavi are examined to demonstrate how Sufi scholarship integrates the Sirah with devotional practice, mystical insight, and metaphysical reflection. The article also provides a comparative analysis of Sufi approaches vis-à-vis juristic and historical frameworks, highlighting their relevance in addressing contemporary spiritual crises amidst rising materialism. Finally, the study addresses critiques concerning historical exaggeration and authenticity, and considers the necessity of recontextualizing Sufi interpretations for modern audiences.

Keywords: Sufi Sirah Literature, Spiritual Hermeneutics, Mystical Biography, Prophetic Love, Islamic Mysticism