mystical relationships and sustainable development: a case study of tolerance

Development, particularly sustainable development, is one of the goals every country strives to achieve. among the facilitators of the move towards development, both culture and culture building are deemed significant. given the vital role of religious beliefs in this area, it seems that developing theoretical frameworks based on accepted theoretical assumptions can serve governments’ practical plans and policies in achieving sustainable development. among islamic schools and sciences, mysticism has unique capacities to formulate specific conceptual frameworks and prepare theoretical presuppositions and practical solutions for culture building. among the propositions, principles, and foundations of islamic mysticism, tolerance is one of the key concepts in the service of culture building to move towards sustainable development. the present study, using documentary method and relying on written sources and libraries, aims to analyze the written heritage of muslim mystics and explain the intellectual foundations of tolerance as the basis of culture based on the ontological position of the unity of existence one the hand, and mystical anthropology on the other hand. the study also seeks to take steps in solving the macro-cultural problems of today while moving towards the best possible realization of sustainable development.