The light of the Sufis

Light in both a literal and metaphorical sense figures prominently in Islam, with its earliest appearance as an unambiguous description of God in the famous ‘Surah of Light’ in the Qur’an. The Arabic word for light is nur, which not only refers to the physical properties of light and its power to reveal but also stands as a metaphor for the luminous presence of God.

Light is particularly prominent in the art and architecture created in the context of Sufism. Often described as a mystical interpretation of Islam, Sufism emerged in Iran in the eighth century and subsequently spread, along with elements of Persian art and culture, throughout the Islamic world. The arts play a central role in the Sufi’s ultimate goal to achieve a oneness with God (tawhid).

The works of art presented in this room are a testament to the wide range of Sufi subjects or philosophies encapsulated by these objects of beauty. Above all, however, it is the interpretive and metaphorical freedom associated with poetry, with its limitless possibilities for the creation of relationships between the earthly and Divine, that makes it the ideal instrument for expressing Sufi philosophy.