As a symbol and mystery, a mirror has been widely used in the work of mystic poets of Iran. From the mystics’ point of view, the universe, in all of its overt and covert manifestations, is nothing but a mirror of God. The art of Islam, where God’s existential appearances exist, wishes to reflect the mirror’s mystery. The present article aimed at finding out the symbolic presence of mirrors in mystical poems and how it is reflected in Islamic art. The research is conducted through descriptive-analytical method and seeks to answer the question: What are the themes of the mirror symbol in mystical poems and why does it appear in Islamic art? Hence, using the method of gathering library information and electronic resources, the findings show that the artistry of the Iranian poets regarding the concept of the word mirror in terms of the unity of the essence of Haq Ta’ala and human’s life is entirely associated to the pantheism of universe. A mirror that has manifested its inner meaning in Islamic art. These aspects in the perfect human being’s life, whose origin is the light of all lights, are a reflection of thousand and a one God’s attributes. They have been mirrored the world and have been manifested in various forms in Islamic art. This is a kind of mirror of the beauty of truth.
The Holy Quran.
Akbari, Fatima (2014) “Qibla’s place in honor of Islamic art and architecture”. International Congress of Religious Culture and Thought. Qom: Iran.
Attar Nishaburi and Faride-addin Mohammad (1992) Divan Attar. 6th ed. Ed. by Taghi Tafazolli. Tehran: Scientific and Cultural Publications.
Awani, Gholamreza (1996) Spiritual wisdom and art. Tehran: Gaross Publications.
Babaei, Ali (2012) Endless passwords mirrors. Tehran: Moly.
Balkhi, Jalal-addin (2004) Masnavi manavi. Nicholson correction. Hassan Lahouti’s translation and research. Tehran: Ghatreh.
Bidel Dehlavi, AbdulQader (2007) Divan Bidel Dehlavi. Correction by Akbar Behdarvand. Tehran: Negah Publications.
Burckhardt, Titus (1990) Sacred art: principles and methods. Translated by Jalal Sattari. Tehran: Soroush.
Dehkhoda, Ali Akbar (1995) Dictionary. Tehran: Amir Kabir.
Fehervari, Geza (2000) Ceramics of the Islamic world (in the Tariq Rajab Museum). London and New York: IB. Tauris Publishers.
Gardner, Helen (1999) Art through ages. translated by Mohammad Taghi Faramarzi. Tehran: Agah.
Halimi, Mohammad Hossein (2011) Aesthetics of the line in Isfahan Jameh Mosque. Tehran: Ghadyani.
Hosseini, Saleh (1990) Literary reform. Tehran: Niloofar.
Jami, Abdolrahman (1982) Haft orang. 3rd ed. Ed. by Morteza Modarres Gilani. Tehran: Saadi Publishing.
Kakayi, Qasim (2001) “Unity of existence: experience, interpretation, allegory”. The Quarterly of Religious Thought 8-9, 79–121.
KamaliZadeh, Taherah (2013) The metaphysical foundations of art and beauty according to Shahab-addin Sohrawardi. Tehran: Academy of Art.
Khaje Shams-addin Mohammad, Hafez Shirazi (1995) Divan Hafez. 5th ed. Ed. by Qazvini and Ghani. Tehran: Asatir.
Khalil-Allahi, Shahla and Ghafar Borjsaz (2011) “The readings of the existential unity of the mirror in Bidel’s poems”. Literary Textual Studies 49, 53–72.
Khoshnazar, Sayyed Rahim,et al. (2010) “Muslim mystics’ view of light”. Fine Arts 42, 5–14.
Maleki, Morteza (2011) A new look at Islamic architecture. Tehran: Royan Pajouh.
Monshi Qomi, Qazi MirAhmad (1973) Golestan art by Ahmad Soheili Khansari. Tehran: Foundation for Iranian Culture.
Mortazavi, Marjan and Khashayar Ghazizadeh (2010) “Transparent nose in contemporary imagery of Iran and the world”. Negareh 16, 91–101.
Mosharraf, Mary (2004) “Mirrors and harp in Rumi”. Persian Language and Literature 45-46, 81–106.
Motamen, Ali (1969) Guide or history of Astan Qods Razavi. Tehran: Astan Qods.
Nasiri, Mohammad (2010) “The personal unity of being in the mirror of mystical parables”. The Mirror of Knowledge 23, 27–52.
Nasr, Sayyed Hossein (1996) Islamic art and spirituality. Tehran: Hekmat.
Pakbaz, Royein (2014) Encyclopedia of art. Tehran: Contemporary Culture.
Pazouki, Shahram (2003) “Mystical foundations of art and beauty in Islam: with reference to Masnavi”. Fine Arts 15, 4–11.
Pope, Arthur Epham (2008) Masterpieces of Persian art. Written by Parviz Natel Khanlari. Tehran: Scientific and Cultural.
Pourzerrin, Reza and Asghar Javani (2014) “A comparative study of visual signs in Iranian mirror and photocollage art”. Fine Arts 4, 81–92.
Pournamdarian, Taghi (1985) Secrets and Ramsey stories in Persian literature. Tehran: Scientific and Cultural Publications.
Riyazi, Mohammadreza (1996) Culture and forms of Iranian idioms. Tehran: Al-Zahra University.
Roshan, Amin (2007) “The mirror symbol in Rumi’s thought”. Religion and Mysticism 11, 107–121.
Saeb Tabrizi, Mohammad Ali (1991) Poems divan. 6 vols. Ed. by Mohammad Ghahreman. Tehran: Scientific and Cultural.
Sarrami, Ghadamali (2009) “The mirror of manifestation in mystical literature”. Special Journal of Mysticism 24, 33–74.
Sarfi, Mohammadreza (2003) “Introduction to symbolism in literature”. Journal of Culture 46-47, 159–177.
Tabarsi, Abu Ali Fazl (2011) Majma Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran. Transl. by Mohammad Bistouni. Tehran: Astan Quds Razavi.
Tadayyon, Mehdi (2015) “Plenteous poetry and mysticism”. Dordari (Scientific and Special Issue) 17, 39–58.