کیرن آرمسٹرانگ اور نظریات صوفیاء میں مشترکات کا تحقیقی جائزہ

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COMMONALITIES BETWEEN KAREN ARMSTRONG’S VIEWS AND SUFI DOCTRINES

Abstract

Karen Armstrong, a renowned scholar of religion, emphasizes the experiential and compassionate essence of spirituality, which resonates deeply with Islamic Sufi doctrines. This study explores the commonalities between Armstrong’s perspectives and Sufi teachings, focusing on their shared emphasis on divine love, human compassion, and spiritual experience over rigid intellectualism. Armstrong’s works, such as A History of God and Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, highlight that true religious experience transcends logical arguments, advocating for a heartfelt connection with the divine, akin to Sufi concepts of divine love (ishq) and annihilation of the self (fana). Both Armstrong and Sufis like Rumi, Ibn Arabi, and Rabia Basri underscore the centrality of love and humility in approaching God, viewing compassion as the core of religious practice. Armstrong’s belief in the unity of religious traditions aligns with Sufi notions of wahdat al-wujud (unity of existence), where all paths converge toward a singular divine truth. Furthermore, both reject religious extremism, advocating for tolerance and interconnectedness across faiths. Armstrong’s emphasis on spiritual transformation through humility mirrors the Sufi journey of self-purification and divine proximity. This comparative analysis reveals a profound convergence in their approaches, emphasizing experiential spirituality, universal compassion, and the transcendence of ego as pathways to divine truth. By exploring these shared themes, the study underscores the potential for interfaith dialogue and mutual understanding rooted in the universal quest for meaning and connection with the divine.