1001Philosophers

Suhrawardi 1154 – 1191

Suhrawardi (1154 – 1191) was a Persian philosopher of the Medieval era, associated with Islamic Philosophy and Medieval Philosophy.

Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi was a Persian philosopher and the founder of the Illuminationist school of Islamic philosophy. Drawing on Avicennan philosophy, ancient Persian wisdom, and Neoplatonism, he developed in The Philosophy of Illumination a metaphysics in which reality consists of a graded series of lights emanating from a Light of Lights and made known to the soul through a direct intuitive vision. He criticized the Peripatetic reliance on definition and opened a path toward a more presence-based epistemology. He was executed at thirty-six by order of the Ayyubid prince of Aleppo.

Key facts

Nationality
Persian
Era
Medieval
Movements
Islamic Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Suhrawardi:

    “Light is the most evident of all things, and through it everything else becomes evident.”

  • Attributed to Suhrawardi:

    “Existence is light, and the difference between things is in the intensity of their light.”

  • Attributed to Suhrawardi:

    “Knowledge by presence is more certain than knowledge by representation.”

  • Attributed to Suhrawardi:

    “The Light of Lights is the source from which all other lights derive.”

  • Attributed to Suhrawardi:

    “The soul knows itself directly, without need of intermediary.”

Frequently asked about Suhrawardi

When did Suhrawardi live?
Suhrawardi was born in 1154 and died in 1191.
Where was Suhrawardi from?
Suhrawardi was a Persian philosopher of the Medieval era.
What philosophical movements is Suhrawardi associated with?
Suhrawardi was associated with Islamic Philosophy and Medieval Philosophy.
What was Suhrawardi known for?
Shihab al-Din Suhrawardi was a Persian philosopher and the founder of the Illuminationist school of Islamic philosophy.
How many quotes are attributed to Suhrawardi?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Suhrawardi in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.