Islah: Journal of Islamic Literature and History
Vol. 6 No. 2 (2025): Islah: Journal of Islamic Literature and History

Divine Love and Sincere Devotion in the Mystical Poetry of Rabi’ah al-Adawiyah

Akmalia, Salwa Rismilillah (Unknown)
R. M. Nur Sakinah (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
16 Dec 2025

Abstract

This paper examines the concept of mahabbah lillah (divine love) in the poetry of Rabi’ah al-Adawiyyah from a literary perspective, drawing on biographical and cultural contexts. As an 8th-century female Sufi figure, Rabi’ah is known for her sincere love for God—motivated neither by fear of Hell nor desire for Paradise, but by pure devotion. The study analyzes ten selected poems that express themes of sacred love, spiritual longing, and total surrender. The findings reveal that her poetry not only possesses literary value but also holds deep spiritual significance within the early Islamic tradition. Her work demonstrates how literature can become a powerful medium for expressing inner experiences and the human relationship with the Divine.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

islah

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Humanities Social Sciences

Description

Islah: Journal of Islamic Literature and History is an open-access journal publishing original papers or documenting issues on Islamic literature and history in the Indonesian context. The journal is published biannually in June and December by the Faculty of Ushuluddin, Adab, and Humanities, ...