A study of the of light and darkness in Mazdyasna and philosophy of Ishraq

“Light “and “darkness” are among most used terms in Zoroastrianism and Philosophy of Ishragh. This dissertation deals with these two concepts in the two mentioned schools. The author struggles to study and explain different aspects of these two concepts. Then the common points as well as the departure points are taken care of and finally the conclusion is suggested.

The author believes that as Sohrawardy declared, beside Islamic terms he has appealed to some terms from the ancient Persian religion, including the terms “light “ and “darkness”. Of course it doesn’t mean that these terms are used in exact meanings that were prevalent in zoroastrianity. Although he has employed these terms but he had his own especial concepts to be meant by these terms in order to establish his great theoretical scheme i.e. inclusive philosophy of ishragh, a philosophy with new glance and interpretation of ancient concepts. He used a tangible and familiar language for Iranians to build his new philosophy.