Concept

The Receptivity of Universal Soul (Nafs-e Kull) to Universal Intellect (Aql-e Kull) in Sana'i's Cosmology

In Section 6 of the Hadiqat al-Haqiqah, Sana'i outlines the hierarchical relationship between the Universal Soul (Nafs-e Kull) and the Universal Intellect (Aql-e Kull). Drawing on Islamic Neoplatonism, he portrays the Universal Soul as the direct receptacle of the Intellect's emanation, describing it as constantly "taking effect from the light of the Intellect." Sana'i uses the metaphor of the Prophet Muhammad (Mustafa) and his companion Abu Bakr (Siddiq) to symbolize the Intellect as the primary source of divine guidance and the Soul as its faithful recipient and supporter. In this cosmological framework, the Universal Soul serves as a vital intermediary (mutawassit) between the higher realm of pure, formless intelligence and the lower material world, simultaneously receiving spiritual illumination and transmitting it into phenomenal existence.

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Updated 2026-07-03

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Literature

Persian Literature Prerequisite Course