An Analysis of Selected Arabic Terminologies from the History of Sufism by Iqbal

تحليل بعض المصطلحات العربية من تاريخ التصوف لإقبال

Abstract

This study examines selected Arabic terminologies from the history of Sufism through the intellectual lens of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, highlighting how he reinterpreted classical mystical concepts within a dynamic philosophical and reformist framework. Rather than treating Sufi terminology as static historical expressions, Iqbal approached them as living concepts capable of renewal, integrating spiritual experience with rational consciousness and ethical action. His analysis reflects a critical engagement with inherited Sufi traditions, aiming to distinguish between constructive spirituality and passive mysticism. By recontextualizing these terms, Iqbal presents Sufism as a force for personal transformation, moral vitality, and civilizational renewal. The study demonstrates that Iqbal’s interpretive method bridges tradition and modernity, offering a model in which spirituality contributes to intellectual awakening and social responsibility. Ultimately, this exploration reveals how Sufi vocabulary, when critically reexamined, can serve as a foundation for revitalizing contemporary Islamic thought.