Abstract:
The present thesis examines the concept of Mystical Union, one of the major themes of Islamic
and Christian mystical poetry through juxtaposing the views of Jalal-ud-din Rumi and William
Blake on it (Mystical Union). The work is primarily focused on confirming the philosophical
assertion that, “at the highest level of spiritual elevation (state of mystical union), dogmatic
differences either cease to exist or become insignificant.”
As a central theme of Islamic and Christian mystical poetry, the study of Mystical Union
may help to understand both types of mysticism. The analysis of this theme may also encompass
the interpretation of most of the constituting elements of mysticism (the stages of mystical path
in Islamic and Christian mysticism).The comparison of Rumi and Blake may help to determine
the value of current thesis as an addition to existing body of knowledge.
To develop the current thesis, the study has been divided in to two phases. In first phase
the concept of mystical union has been discussed individually with reference to the poetry of
Rumi and Blake through Dawson’s research technique of five Ws. In the second phase,
Zepetnek’s model of comparative study of literature has been followed which provides an
approach of thematic inclusion. In accordance with this model, the opinions of Rumi and Blake
on Mystical Union have been juxtaposed for finding thematic affinities.
The affinities between the views of Rumi and Blake on mystical union show that there
has been an overwhelming agreement between Islamic and Christian mysticism, and that “at the
highest level of spiritual elevation (state of mystical union), the differences based on dogmatism
cease to exist or become insignificant”. The validity of this assertion has been confirmed through
comparative study of Rumi and Blake on Mystical Union.
