A Comparative Study between Fana fi Alla and Mokahah in Islamic Mysticism and Advaite Vedanta with emphasis on Ibn Arabi and Shankara’s point of view

Among the schools of non-Islamic mysticism, the doctrines of the school of Advaita Vedānta are somewhat related to the principles of Islamic mysticism. Among the teachings of this school, the doctrine of “Mokṣa” resembles a variety of dimensions as “Fana of Allah” (: “passing away” or “annihilation” of the self) in Islamic mysticism. A comparative study of the explanations presented in the School of Advaita Vedānta, in particular by Shankara, about the doctrine of “Mokṣa” and explanation of the scholars of Islamic mysticism, especially Ibn al-Arabi, about the doctrin of “Fana of Allah” (: “passing away” or “annihilation” of the self), can help us to understand the teachings of “Fana of Allah” (: “passing away” or “annihilation” of the self). Hence, the main question of this research is “what aspects of the contribution and the difference between the position of “Fana of Allah” (: “passing away” or “annihilation” of the self) in Islamic mysticism, with emphasis on the opinions of Ibn al-Arabi and the position of “Mokṣa” in the School of Advaita Vedānta with emphasis on the opinions of Shankara, can be found?”  To answer the main question of this research descriptive method has been used in data collection process and then analytical method has been used for analyzing information. In the comparative section, the comparative method has been used. According to the findings of the research, in spite of the common features between these schools on “Mokṣa” and “Fana of Allah”, as (1) the emphasis on the unity of existence, (2) the role of knowledge, and (3) the instrumentation of action, these two schools have fundamental differences in the final analysis of “Mokṣa” and “Fana of Allah” of which, these can be mentioned: (1) being existential – cognitive of “Fana of Allah” in Islamic mysticism as opposed to being cognitive only of  “Mokṣa” in the School of Advaita Vedānta, (2) Kindly origin of “Fana of Allah” in Islamic mysticism as opposed to being originated by Samsare of “Mokṣa” in the School of Advaita Vedānta, (3) emphasizing on the role of perfect man in process of “Fana of Allah” in Islamic mysticism as opposed to ignoring the role of the perfect man in the School of Advaita Vedānta, (4) the importance of a particular method, along with the general way of achieving of “Fana of Allah” in Islamic mysticism as opposed to neglecting it in the School of Advaita Vedānta, (5) the Special attention to being survived after the “Fana of Allah” in Islamic mysticism despite not concentrating on the next stage of “Mokṣa” in the School of Advaita Vedānta.