An Analysis of the Concepts of Mysticism and Spirituality, and Their Relationships

Mysticism and spirituality are phenomena with some aspects, it is necessary to pay attention to these aspects in their definition. The essential essence of mysticism, i.e. intuitive experience, the existential developments that lead to this intuition and the emergence of those intuitions in the form of esoteric propositions, and the science of theoretical and practical mysticism are among the things that have been considered in this article in the definition of mysticism. Spirituality has also been considered an existential transformation that is realized with an interconnected set of beliefs, moods, and personal experiences, along with transcendent feelings, causes a difference in a person's attitude to the universe, and can be emerged through different words, behaviors, and interactions. In this article, through an analytical method, while enumerating the commonalities and differences between spirituality and mysticism and expressing the relationship between the two, it has been pointed out and explained how spirituality and mysticism coincide in some of these levels, and what relationship exists between Islamic mysticism and spirituality that are discussed among Muslim experts. Finally, by stating the criteria, the case studies of mysticism and spirituality and the difference between correct mysticism and spirituality and pseudo-mysticism and false spirituality have been dealt with.