An Analysis of Woman as Manifestation of God by Annemarie Schimmel

Abstract

The symbolic significance of love, beauty, and divine mystery has always been central to literary and mystical traditions. In classical Arabic and Persian literature, the gender of the beloved often remains ambiguous, creating a space for profound symbolic interpretation. In Persian poetry, descriptions of the beloved transcend gender norms, with features like the emerging beard of a youth being seen as symbolic rather than literal. In tales like Laila and Majnun, the intense passion of love is often portrayed as an allegory for divine love in a Sufi context. Majnun’s madness and yearning for Layla are mirrored in the spiritual seeker’s longing for union with the Divine. Similarly, spiritual practices such as Hajj have been likened to the journey of love, where the Kaaba is metaphorically envisioned as a bride. Great Sufi philosophers like Ibn Arabi emphasized the feminine as a manifestation of divine attributes. For him, perceiving God in a feminine form was among the closest ways to experience the divine essence. This duality—manifested in beauty and majesty, or the principles of Yin and Yang—can be observed in all aspects of life. Thus, literature and Sufi philosophy elevate love from mere emotional experience to a divine connection. The beloved becomes a symbol of the fusion between human desires and divine qualities, reflecting a deeper spiritual truth. This perspective not only enriches our understanding of love but also offers a path to transcendence through its universal and timeless symbolism.