The Sufi Journey to the Next World

Since the very birth of Islam, the Last Things have become a subject of passionate dispute among Muslims. In addition to the “external” approaches of Islamic jurists and theologians with regard to death, funerals, the Hereafter, etc., Sufis have incorporated sepulchral images into their symbolic ways of expression. This article sets out to precisely discuss such Sufi symbolism and the interpretation has a twofold goal: first, to discuss the emblematic approaches to the Last Things, within the framework of Sufi spiritual legacy. The second objective is to prove that symbolic interpretation of the eschatological journey has its demonstrable “earthly counterpart” within Sufi teaching about the spiritual progress of the human being.