Draft:Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi

Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi
Name	Shihab al-Din Umar Suhrawardi
Other Names	Shaykh al-Ishraq
Personal Details
Birth Place	Zanjan, Suhraward village
Brith Date	549 AH (approx. 1154 CE)
Death Place	Syria, Aleppo, prison of Al-Zahir Ghazi
Death Date	Last Friday of Dhu al-Hijjah, 587 AH (approx. 1191 CE)
Teachers	Majd al-Din Jili
Students	Shams al-Din Shahrazuri
Religion	Islam

Shihab al-Din Umar Suhrawardi, titled Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi, known as Shaykh al-Ishraq, Shaykh al-Maqtul, and Shaykh al-Shahid, is one of the greatest figures of Wisdom, Philosophy, and Mysticism in Iran. He is a renowned Iranian philosopher from the city of Suhraward, Khodabandeh county, Zanjan province. After extensive travels and acquiring and disseminating knowledge, Suhrawardi headed to Aleppo, where due to the enmity of a group of Sunni scholars, he passed away in prison in 587 AH (approx. 1191 CE) by order of Al-Zahir, son of Saladin. Several works by Suhrawardi remain in the fields of philosophy, mysticism, translations, Quranic exegesis, and Hadith commentary. His most important work is the book Hikmat al-Ishraq.

Biography

Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi was born in one of the villages of Zanjan. Most biographers have recorded his full name as "Abu al-Futuh Shihab al-Din Yahya ibn Habash ibn Amirak Suhrawardi", titled Shaykh al-Ishraq and al-Maqtul. There is a discrepancy among biographers regarding Suhrawardi's birth year, and his birth date should be considered around 549 AH.

The short life of al-Ishraqi can be divided into three periods: 1. First period: The period of residence in Suhraward, the details of which are not specified. 2. Second period: His travels, during which he met with scholars and sages and engaged in learning and philosophizing. 3. Third period: Residence in Aleppo and the writing of important works such as "al-Mashari' wa al-Mutarahat" and Hikmat al-Ishraq.

Early Education of Suhrawardi

At the beginning of his youth, Suhrawardi went to Maragheh for education and studied wisdom under Majd al-Din Jili. He then went to Isfahan to benefit from the knowledge of teachers who were present in the most important scientific center of that time, Isfahan, and in this city, he read the book "al-Basa'ir al-Nasiriyyah" authored by Umar ibn Sahlan Savi under Zahir al-Din Farisi.

After residing in Isfahan, Suhrawardi went to present-day Turkey and Syria to become acquainted with other schools of thought, and in the city of Mardin, he befriended Fakhr al-Din Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abd al-Salam Mardini, a great philosopher of Turkey.

Suhrawardi's Thoughts

As an Illuminationist philosopher, Suhrawardi defended a type of nationalism and also a political approach that considers the "Sultanic Philosopher" as the rightful ruler. He was also contemporaneous with one of the most sensitive periods of the activity of the Nizari Ismailis of Iran, and it is probable that during his travels he became acquainted with Nizari missionaries and preachers.

Intellect from Suhrawardi's Viewpoint

Suhrawardi considers the Active Intellect as an important factor in the acquisition of virtues by the soul and emphasizes especially its connection with Asceticism and purification. He believes that the Active Intellect acquaints souls with right teachings and divine knowledge.

Fate of Suhrawardi

In the final period of his life, Suhrawardi engaged in debate with Hanbali jurists and after overcoming them, gained access to the court of Al-Zahir. His abundant intelligence and vast knowledge caused the hostility of the court jurists, and ultimately, he was imprisoned and passed away there. Suhrawardi's death was as mysterious as his life, and he did not leave many works that would clarify the story of his life.

References

• Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi, Renowned Iranian Philosopher and Reviver of Khosrovani Wisdom, Islamic Republic News Agency website, Published: 30 July 2020 CE, Retrieved: 9 December 2025 CE.