The Concept of the Self in Phenomenology and Sufism: A Comparative Study

The philosophies of Edmund Husserl and the mystical insights of Ibn 'Arabi are the main subjects of this essay, which examines the idea of the self from the twin views of Islamic Sufism and Western phenomenology. Phenomenology emphasizes the self as the pure consciousness that constitutes the world through intentionality, while Sufism views the self (nafs) as something to be purified on the path to spiritual realization and unity with the Divine. Despite differing metaphysical commitments and cultural contexts, both traditions reflect a deep concern with the structure and transformation of the self. This study aims to bridge philosophical and mystical perspectives by demonstrating how both traditions interrogate the ego and strive for a deeper, more authentic form of subjectivity. The paper concludes that while phenomenology seeks transcendental subjectivity through eidetic reduction, Sufism envisions the annihilation of the lower self as the means of unveiling the true, divine self.