The Three Kingdoms (Mawalid-e Thalatha) in Sufi Cosmology
In Persian Sufi poetry, the material universe is often described using a classical cosmological framework comprising the celestial spheres (Aflak), the four elements (Arkan: fire, air, water, earth), and their 'offspring,' known as the Three Kingdoms (Mawalid-e Thalatha): minerals (ma'adin), plants (nabat), and animals (haywan). First extensively detailed in poetic form by Sana'i, this schema illustrates the structured, hierarchical nature of Divine creation. It establishes the physical stages of existence, serving as a foundational prerequisite for later Sufi doctrines—such as those elaborated by Rumi and Shabestari—which describe the soul's evolutionary ascent through these very kingdoms to reach human perfection.
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