The theory of the influence of Islamic mysticism on Hindu mysticism according to the orientalist Zahner - presentation and evaluation

Abstract

One of the most important oriental studies that examined the origin of Islamic mysticism is the study of the R. C. Zaehner, in which he tried to prove the influence of Hindu mysticism by studying the mysticism of some of the most prominent figures as Abu Yazid al-Bistami, Al-Junayd and Al-Ghazali. This research aims to present the most important evidences of his theory and then evaluate it by returning to the original Islamic and Hindu sources and understanding it according to the intentions of its authors. After applying the analytical and critical approach to the most important proofs that he provided, we agreed with his conclusion that Abu Yazid al-Bistami was influenced by Hindu mysticism in some of his sayings, and we showed that it doesn’t apply to the ideas and sayings of Al-Junayd and Al-Ghazali.