SUHRAWARDI, AS-

born c. 1155, , Suhraward, near Zanjan, Iran died 1191, Halab, Syria in full Shihab Ad-din Yahya Ibn Habash Ibn Amirak As-suhrawardi, also called Al-maqtul, or Shaykh Al-ishraq mystic theologian and philosopher who was a leading figure of the illuminationist school of Islamic philosophy, attempting to create a synthesis between philosophy and mysticism. After studying at Esfahan, a leading centre of Islamic scholarship, as-Suhrawardi traveled through Iran, Anatolia, and Syria. Influenced by mystical teachings, he spent much time in meditation and retreat, and in Halab (modern Aleppo) he favourably impressed its ruler, Malik az-Zahir, son of Saladin. His teachings, however, particularly the pantheistic overtones of his mystical doctrines, aroused the opposition of the established and orthodox 'ulama' (men of learning), who persuaded Malik az-Zahir to have him put to death. The appellation al-Maqtul (the Killed) meant that he was not to be considered a shahid (martyr). As-Suhrawardi wrote voluminously. The more than 50 separate works that were attributed to him were classified into two categories: doctrinal and philosophical accounts containing commentaries on the works of Aristotle and Plato, as well as his own contribution to the illuminationist school; and shorter treatises, generally written in Persian and of an esoteric nature, meant to illustrate the paths and journeys of a mystic before he could achieve ma 'rifah (gnosis, or esoteric knowledge). Influenced by Aristotelian philosophy and Zoroastrian doctrines, he attempted to reconcile traditional philosophy and mysticism. In his best-known work, Hikmat al-ishraq (The Wisdom of Illumination), he said that essences are creations of the intellect, having no objective reality or existence. Concentrating on the concepts of being and non-being, he held that existence is a single continuum that culminates in a pure light that he called God. Other stages of being along this continuum are a mixture of light and dark. As-Suhrawardi also founded a mystical order known as the Ishraqiyah. The Nurbakhshiyah order of dervishes (itinerant holy men) also traces its origins to him.