The Pursuit of Beauty in Sufi Mysticism

In Sufi philosophy, beauty is seen as a reflection of the Divine, with God being referred to as Al-Jamil, meaning "The Beautiful." This concept suggests that every aspect of creation holds an imprint of God’s beauty, and recognizing this beauty leads to a greater understanding and love of God.

Both Rumi and Hafiz, two of the most celebrated Sufi poets, delve deeply into this notion of divine beauty in their poetry. They often use the metaphors of nature, love, and the human experience to express how beauty is a pathway to the Divine.

Rumi’s Pursuit of Beauty

Jalaluddin Rumi’s poetry is infused with references to beauty as a manifestation of God. He sees every aspect of the world—whether natural, human, or spiritual—as a reflection of the divine beauty, which draws the lover (the seeker) closer to the Beloved (God). For Rumi, beauty is not just an aesthetic experience but a spiritual one that reflects the presence and love of God in the world.

In one of his famous ghazals, Rumi writes:

بیا تا گل برافشانیم و می در ساغر اندازیم
فلک را سقف بشکافیم و طرحی نو دراندازیم

Biyā tā gol bar afshānīm va mey dar sāghar andāzīm
Falak rā saqf beshkāfīm va tarhi no dar andāzīm

Come, let us scatter flowers and pour wine into the goblet,
Let us tear open the roof of the heavens and lay out a new design. 

This verse, from Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, illustrates Rumi’s ecstatic celebration of beauty as both an experience and an act of creation. The “scattering of flowers” and “pouring of wine” are metaphors for embracing the beauty of life with joy and abandonment, while “tearing open the roof of the heavens” symbolizes breaking through the confines of ordinary perception to access divine beauty. For Rumi, beauty is not passive; it is an active force that calls the seeker to transcend the limitations of the world and enter a new realm of spiritual awareness.

This poem highlights that beauty is a catalyst for transformation. The scattering of flowers reflects the way beauty opens the heart, and the tearing of the heavens indicates that beauty brings us into direct communion with the Divine. Rumi suggests that beauty is a pathway to transcendence, where the individual can dissolve into the cosmic order of divine love.

In another verse from the Masnavi, Rumi reflects on the transient nature of physical beauty and how it mirrors the eternal beauty of God:

هر چیزی که زیبا و منصفانه است
برای چشم کسی که می‌بیند ساخته شده است

Har chizi keh zibā o monsifāneh ast
Barāye cheshm-e kasi keh mibinad sakhteh shodeh ast

Every beautiful and fair thing
Is made for the eye of the one who sees.

Here, Rumi teaches that beauty is everywhere for those who are attuned to it. The capacity to see beauty in the world reflects the inner state of the seeker. Those who are spiritually awakened perceive beauty as a sign of the Divine, and in this way, beauty becomes a doorway to God. For Rumi, beauty is both a reflection of God’s presence and an invitation to deepen one’s spiritual vision.

Hafiz’s Celebration of Divine Beauty

Hafiz, another towering figure in Sufi poetry, similarly celebrates the divine through his deep love for beauty. His poetry often praises the beauty of the world as a reflection of God’s infinite beauty and love. Hafiz is known for his joyous and ecstatic expressions of divine love, frequently using metaphors of nature, wine, and human love to describe the beauty of the Divine.

In one of his poems from Divan-e-Hafiz, Hafiz writes:

چو یارانِ خدا در کارند
من سرودن خواهم که
زیباییِ آنان
معلم من است

Cho yārān-e khodā dar kārand
Man sorūdan khāham keh
Zībā’ī-ye ānān
Mo’allim-e man ast

When the beloveds of God are on duty,
I will sing, because
Their beauty is my teacher.

In this poem, Hafiz reflects on how the beauty of the “beloveds of God” — people or things that manifest divine love — becomes a guide for the seeker. For Hafiz, beauty is not something external; it is a living force that educates the soul and leads it closer to God. This beauty could be the radiance of nature, the face of a lover, or even the beauty found in acts of love and kindness. It acts as a spiritual teacher, guiding the seeker toward divine union.

In another of Hafiz’s poems from Divan-e-Hafiz, he writes:

یک روز خورشید اعتراف کرد
من تنها سایه‌ای هستم
ای کاش می‌توانستم
نور بی‌نهایت را به تو نشان دهم
که مرا ساخته است!

Yek rūz khorshīd e’terāf kard
Man tanhā sāyeh-ī hastam
Ey kāsh mitavānestam
Nūr-e bī-nehāyat rā be to neshān daham
Keh marā sakhteh ast!

One day the sun admitted,
I am just a shadow.
I wish I could show you
The infinite light
That has made me!

This poem reflects Hafiz’s belief that all external beauty is merely a shadow of a greater, divine reality. The sun, often a metaphor for beauty and light, admits that it is only a reflection of the true, infinite light of God. For Hafiz, the ultimate beauty is found not in the physical world but in the Divine itself, and this divine beauty exists within each person. The beauty that we experience in the world is a mere reflection of the light that exists within our own souls.

Beauty as a Path to the Divine

For both Rumi and Hafiz, the pursuit of beauty is an essential part of the mystical journey. Beauty, whether seen in nature, love, art, or even the self, is always a reminder of the Beloved. The world’s beauty, in its ephemeral and changing forms, reflects the eternal and unchanging beauty of God.

Sufi poets often use the metaphor of the mirror to describe how beauty in the world reflects divine beauty. In this way, everything beautiful that we see in the world is like a mirror reflecting the true beauty of the Divine. To see beauty in the world is to catch a glimpse of God’s attributes, and to love beauty is to love God.

In the words of Rumi, from the Masnavi:

زبان گنگ شد چو رویت آمد
زبان در دهان چه گنجد؟ خدا را

Zabān gang shod cho rūyat āmad
Zabān dar dehān che gonjad? Khodā rā

The tongue becomes mute when your face appears,
What can fit in the mouth, before God?

This reflects the Sufi belief that once the soul connects with divine beauty, words and concepts become insufficient to describe the experience. The beauty of the divine transcends the limits of language and thought. For Rumi, the experience of divine beauty is beyond the intellect and can only be fully appreciated by the soul. This state of awe in the presence of God's beauty leads to a profound silence, where human distinctions and even language itself seem inadequate.

Hafiz and the Ecstasy of Beauty

Hafiz, on the other hand, often conveys the ecstasy and joy that comes from perceiving divine beauty. His poetry celebrates beauty not only as a pathway to God but as an invitation to dance with the Divine in a state of intoxicated love.

In one of his poems from Divan-e-Hafiz, he writes:

در خرابات مغان نور خدا می‌بینم
این عجب بین که چه نوری ز کجا می‌بینم

Dar kharābāt-e moghān nūr-e khodā mībīnam
Īn ‘ajab bīn keh che nūrī ze kojā mībīnam

In the tavern of the Magi, I see the light of God,
Look at this wonder, what light do I see and from where?

This playful yet profound poem reflects the ecstatic experience of beauty that, for Hafiz, permeates the entire cosmos. His vision of beauty is not restricted to solemn reverence; it is full of joy, humor, and celebration, all as part of the divine dance of life.

Beauty as a Reflection of Divine Love

Both Rumi and Hafiz intertwine the themes of beauty and love, suggesting that the appreciation of beauty in the world is inseparable from the experience of divine love. For these poets, beauty is not an abstract concept or mere aesthetic pleasure—it is a direct manifestation of God’s love for creation.

In another of Hafiz’s famous ghazals, he writes:

ای دل اگر عاشقی در پی دلدار باش
بر در دل روز و شب منتظر یار باش

Ey del agar ʿāsheqi dar pay-e deldār bāsh
Bar dar-e del ruz o shab montazer-e yār bāsh

Oh heart, if you are a lover, be in search of the beloved,
At the door of the heart, day and night, be waiting for the beloved.

In this metaphor, the lover and the Beloved are not two separate entities seeking each other; they are one and the same, united in the essence of divine love. The beauty that lovers see in each other is a reflection of the Divine that already exists within them. To Rumi and Hafiz, recognizing beauty is recognizing the divine spark within all creation.

Conclusion: The Role of Beauty in the Sufi Path

For both Rumi and Hafiz, beauty is more than an aesthetic experience; it is a manifestation of the Divine that leads the seeker to God. Whether in the natural world, in human love, or in acts of kindness, beauty points to the ultimate reality of God’s presence. Both poets invite their readers to open their hearts to the beauty around them as a way of awakening to the divine within themselves.

Through their poetry, Rumi and Hafiz emphasize that the pursuit of beauty is, at its core, a pursuit of God. By cultivating an appreciation for beauty in all its forms, the Sufi walks the path of love, constantly reminded of the presence of the Beloved in every facet of existence. In this way, beauty becomes both the signpost and the destination in the Sufi journey toward divine union.

Rumi and Hafiz’s works continue to resonate because they offer not only spiritual wisdom but also a celebration of life’s beauty. Their poetry reflects the Sufi understanding that to see beauty in the world is to see the face of God, and that to love beauty is to love God Himself.